Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that, according to the Arthritis Foundation, affects an estimated 1.3 million people in America. Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is treated with a variety of medications that can deplete the level of calcium in the body. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to an increased risk for rheumatoid arthritis development and symptoms. For this reason, many people with rheumatoid arthritis are advised to take vitamin D and calcium supplements to help their condition. In most it does not cause a disease flare, but rather helps to treat symptoms and prevent other possible complications like osteoporosis. Have your physician test your calcium and vitamin D levels to check for deficiencies.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
In a healthy individual, the body's immune system works to fight off bacteria and viruses when you become sick or injured. If you have rheumatoid arthritis, your immune system malfunctions and attacks the synovium, or the tissue that is found in between your joints. It causes joint pain, decreased range of motion and can lead to joint disfigurement and disability. Many times to reduce swelling, your physician will prescribe corticosteroids which can deplete levels of calcium in your body. A decrease in calcium and vitamin D levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis puts them at a greater risk of developing osteoporosis.
Calcium
Calcium is a mineral that is essential for bone health and also plays a role in the function of the heart, nerves and blood system. A low level of calcium can lead to osteopenia, or a low bone mass, and increases your chances of developing osteoporosis. The Institute of Medicine's Food and Nutrition Board recommends that adult between the ages of 19 and 50 receive 1,000 mg of calcium a day through dietary intake of calcium supplements.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a fat soluble nutrient that can be made by your body through direct exposure of your skin to the ultraviolet B rays of the sun. It can also be found in small amounts in fortified milk and oily fish such as salmon. Vitamin D is also essential for bone health and works to regulate the calcium levels in your body. According to the Food and Nutrition Board, adults between the ages of 19 and 70 should receive 600 IU of vitamin D a day. Vitamin D deficiency can cause symptoms such as muscle and joint pain and a weakening and softening of the bones.
Medical Research
Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to diseases and conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. A 2010 study published in "Arthritis Research and Therapy" looked at the association of vitamin D deficiency and rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. They found that vitamin D deficiency is very common in patients with RA and that there is a strong association between low levels of vitamin D and disease activity and treatment success. They discovered significantly lower levels of vitamin D in patients with active disease activity and a poor response to disease treatment. Calcium deficiency and low bone mineral density is common in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. A 2006 study published in "Arthritis and Rheumatology" looked at the use of calcium and vitamin D supplements in patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and found that 1,000 mg of calcium and 400 IU of vitamin D significantly increased the bone mineral density in these patients.
References
- Arthritis Foundation: Who Gets Rheumatoid Arthritis?
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin D
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Calcium
- Arthritis Foundation: What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
- "Arthritis Research and Therapy"; Vitamin D Deficiency in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Prevalence Determinants and Associations With Disease Activity and Disability; M. Rossini et al.; 2010
- "Arthritis and Rheumatology"; A Randomized Controlled Trial of Calcium Supplementation to Increase Bone Mineral Density in Children With Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis; DJ Lovell et al.; July 2006
