Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune inflammatory disease that impacts an estimated 1.5 million Americans, according to the Lupus Foundation of America. Symptoms vary from person to person and tend to come and go. Most lupus sufferers experience joint pain and develop arthritis. Other common symptoms include fatigue and general discomfort. The LPA reports that there is not one specific diet that can ease lupus flares, and it does not endorse any specific vitamins.
Vitamins
The LPA explains that while there is no special diet for people with lupus, patients should consume nutritious foods rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Fish oil, which contains omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin A, may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and lower high blood pressure, which are common problems in people with the autoimmune disease. Alfalfa, a good source of vitamins A, C, E and K4, may reduce flares associated with lupus.
Antioxidants
Antioxidant vitamins may be especially beneficial for lupus patients due to their link to lower heart attack risk. Cardiovascular disease is a major complication associated with lupus and a leading cause of death. Medical News Today reports that women with the disease tend to have higher levels of total and LDL cholesterol. Antioxidants prevent cholesterol from sticking to artery walls, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. The best vitamin antioxidants, both of which are available as a liquid, are E and C.
Liquid Vitamins
Liquid vitamins are on par with tablets and capsules when it comes to efficacy. Their biggest benefit is that they're easily administered in youngsters and the elderly who can't swallow a pill, and they are absorbed more rapidly, an advantage for people with malabsorption problems. An estimated 5,000 to 10,000 kids in the United States have lupus, according to the LPA and Thomas J.A. Lehman, M.D., a pediatric rheumatologist in New York City. Most people with lupus have a normal life span, meaning that many will eventually be elderly and may have problems taking tablet vitamins. A 2011 "Journal of Advanced Nursing" study found that senior care centers split pills regularly, and often the pill fragments weigh more or less than the prescribed amount.
Risks
The LPA warns that some vitamins may interact with or prevent absorption of medications used for the treatment of lupus. Specifically, vitamin K, which helps strengthen the immune system, can interfere with immunosuppressant drugs, according to the National Institutes of Health. It may also block the effects of vitamin E, an antioxidant that protects the cells from damage associated with aging or environmental factors.
References
- Lupus Foundation of America: Statistics on Lupus
- Lupus Foundation of America: Treatment for Lupus
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Symptoms; February 2009
- Lupus Foundation of America: Chat Transcript for Dr. Laura Coleman, April 11, 2007
- MedlinePlus: Alfalfa; November 2010
- Lupus Foundation of America: Kids Speak Out About Lupus
