According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, arthritis limits the activities of nearly 21 million adults in the U.S. It is the most common cause of disability. Arthritis comes in many forms, with several causes, such as aging, injuries of the joints, or autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis. It can affect any joints in the body, including the fingers, and causes pain and swelling. Given the fact that arthritis affects so many people, researchers are always looking for possible causes and treatments. Many of their studies have led them to vitamin D deficiency.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a fat soluble nutrient that is essential for bone growth and health. It is essential for calcium absorption. Dietary sources of vitamin D are limited, but fortified milk and oily fish such as salmon do contain small amounts. However, unlike most vitamins, vitamin D is made by your body when your skin is exposed to the ultraviolet B rays from the sun. However, with the recent skin cancer prevention trends toward sunscreen and limited sun exposure, this has created widespread vitamin D deficiency. According to a 2009 report in the "Archives of Internal Medicine," 77 percent of Americans are vitamin D deficient. The normal range for vitamin D in the blood is 30 to 80 nanomoles per liter, with those under 30 considered vitamin D deficient.
Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are two forms of arthritis that show a connection to vitamin D deficiency. According to the Arthritis Foundation, rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is an inflammatory arthritis and an autoimmune disease. Your body's immune system malfunctions and attacks the synovium, or the thin membrane between the joints. It is a chronic and progressive disease with no cure. Osteoarthritis, according to the National Institutes of Health, is the most common form of arthritis and causes pain, swelling and reduced motion. It affects any joint, though it is most common in the hands, knees, hips and spine. Osteoarthritis breaks down the cartilage in the joints and causes the bones to rub together, which can cause permanent joint damage.
Medical Research
Numerous studies look at the connection between vitamin D deficiencies and arthritis. A 2011 study published in "Clinical Rheumatology" looked at new patients entering a rheumatology clinic over a six-month period. Patients entered with a variety of joint issues, including rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. The researchers looked at the vitamin D levels of all 231 patients and found that 70 percent were vitamin D deficient. Rheumatoid arthritis patients showed 69 percent vitamin D deficiency, and osteoarthritis patients showed 62 percent. They concluded that vitamin D deficiency is a possible modifiable risk factor in the development of rheumatologic conditions and that physicians should address vitamin D deficiency. A 2010 study published in "International Orthopaedics" found a significant connection between vitamin D deficiency and osteoarthritis and suggests that any patients with symptoms of osteoarthritis be screened for vitamin D deficiency.
Considerations
If you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis or symptoms of arthritis in your fingers, hands or any other joint, consult your physician and have your serum vitamin D levels checked. If the results come back and show you are vitamin D deficient, your physician can create a vitamin supplement plan to treat the deficiency and bring your levels back within the optimal range. Once your levels are where they should be, your physician will advise you on a supplement plan to avoid becoming deficient again. Do not try and supplement without the guidance of your physician, as too much vitamin D can cause toxicity, the symptoms of which include confusion, disorientation, irregular heart rate, nausea, weakness and weight loss. Excess vitamin D can also cause damage to the kidneys.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; "Arthritis"; July 7, 2011
- "Archives of Internal Medicine"; "Demographic Differences and Trends of Vitamin D Insufficiency in the U.S. Population, 1988-2004"; Dr. Adit Ginde et al.; March 23, 2009
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin D
- Arthritis Foundation: What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
- "Clinical Rheumatology"; "The Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency in Consecutive New Patients Seen Over a 6-month Period in General Rheumatology Clinics"; M. Haroon et al.; June 2011
- "International Orthopaedics"; "Association Between Serum Vitamin D Deficiency and Knee Osteoarthritis"; B. Heidari et al.; December 30, 2010
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