Does Vitamin D3 & Calcium Deficiency Cause Arthritis?

Arthritis is a chronic health condition characterized by inflammation of one or more joints. Arthritis includes osteoarthritis, which affects older people and causes pain in knees, hips and fingers; and rheumatoid arthritis, which may develop even in children and produces pain in the hands and feet. According to The John Hopkins Arthritis Center, prolonged use of steroid drugs and lack of certain nutrients like minerals and vitamins in the diet may cause arthritis. Taking calcium supplements along with vitamin D may decrease the risk of developing arthritis. Consult your doctor before taking vitamin D supplements for arthritis.

Vitamin D-3

Vitamin D is available in two forms, vitamin D-2 and D-3. Vitamin D-2 is manufactured by plants or fungus and can be included in the body through fortified food such as juices, milk or cereals. Mushrooms are the best source for vitamin D-2. Vitamin D-3 is the natural form which can be obtained by the intake of animal products. In the body, vitamin D-3 is manufactured through the exposure of the skin to the ultraviolet B rays from the sun.

Research

In a study published in 2000 in "The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews," researchers found that calcium along with vitamin D may be effective in preventing and treating bone loss in people with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. People with arthritis receiving steroid treatment should also take calcium and vitamin D. According to researchers, steroids cause bone loss in people with arthritis. On the contrary to the Cochrane study, another study published in October, 2008 in "Arthritis Rheumatism" demonstrated whether oral supplementation with calcium and vitamin D was beneficial in children suffering from and rheumatoid arthritis. Researchers found that neither calcium nor vitamin D improved bone mass in children with rheumatoid arthritis.

Dosage

In the body, vitamin D is converted to a hormone called calcitriol that helps in the absorption of calcium from gastrointestinal tract -- include stomach and intestines. A study published in January, 2004 in "Arthritis and Rheumatism" states that intake of 400 IU of vitamin D per day in the form of food or supplements may reduce the risk of rheumatoid arthritis. Food rich in vitamin D3 include the flesh of fatty fish such as salmon, tuna and mackerel, as well as fish liver oil, according to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.

Precautions

People with arthritis should not replace vitamin D with any medication used for the treatment of arthritis. Talk to your doctor for more information about a healthy diet and vitamin supplements related to arthritis. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that excess weight gain may also contribute to the development of arthritis. Ask your doctor for more information related to weight, diet and arthritis.