Inflammation is a process in which the white blood cells in your body attempt to protect you from harmful stimuli, including damaged cells, irritants, or toxic agents, and results in body tissue swelling, joint pain, and occasionally, flu-like symptoms. Vitamin D is actually a type of prohormone that can be synthesized in your body from the sun, or taken in through your diet and nutritional supplements, according to the Vitamin D Council. Vitamin D serves many roles within your body, and may be able to reduce chronic inflammation resulting from conditions related to arthritis. Talk with your doctor before using a vitamin D supplement for inflammation.
How Vitamin D Works
High levels of vitamin D in the body have been associated with lower levels of inflammation, especially in people who are chronically ill. Vitamin D negatively affects immune response by suppressing tumor necrosis factor-alpha, or TNF-alpha, and leukocyte telomere length, or LTL, two factors that increase your body's inflammatory response, according to the book, "Physiology of Sport and Exercise." According to the "Journal of Inflammation," individuals with a vitamin D deficiency are more likely to have inflammation.
Research
According to a 2004 study published in the journal, "Arthritis and Rheumatism," individuals who consumed vitamin D supplements over the course of 11 years were less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than individuals who did not consume supplemental vitamin D, suggesting that vitamin D is associated with a lower risk of developing chronic inflammatory conditions. A 2007 study published in "Diabetes Care" found that 700 IU of vitamin D for three years, combined with calcium, significantly lowered inflammation.
Recommendations
According to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, the recommended dietary allowance, or RDA for vitamin D is measured in International Units, or IUs. Children and adults are required to take in 600 IUs of vitamin D per day, while elderly adults should take in about 800 IUs per day. However, 2,000 IUs of vitamin D is recommended for most healthy adults to reduce the risk of developing diseases linked to vitamin D deficiency, including chronic inflammatory diseases.
Precautions
Vitamin D toxicity, called hypervitaminosis D, occurs when vitamin D intake is higher than 50,000 IUs a day and can also cause hypercalcemia, or calcium toxicity, due to vitamin D's ability to facilitate the absorption of calcium. Vitamin D toxicity is unlikely in healthy individuals who acquire less than 10,000 IUs per day, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. The Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine currently sets the upper tolerable limit of vitamin D at 4,000 IUs per day.
References
- "Physiology of Sport and Exercise"; Jack H. Wilmore and David L. Costill; 2004
- Vitamin D Council; What is Vitamin D?
- "Journal of Inflammation"; Serum Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha Concentrations are Negatively Correlated with Serum 25(OH)D Concentrations in Healthy Women; C.A. Peterson and M.E. Heffernan; July 2008
- "Arthritis and Rheumatism"; Vitamin D Intake is Inversely Associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results From the Iowa Women's Health Study; L.A. Merlino et al.; Jan 2004
- "Diabetes Care"; The Effects of Calcium and Vitamin D Supplementation on Blood Glucose and Markers of Inflammation in Non-diabetic Adults; A.G. Pittas et al.; April 2007
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