Vitamin D Supplements With Inactive Sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is an immune disorder that causes inflammation in different organs of the body. The chronic disease has no cure, but treatment options do exist. Often, physicians prescribe medications to control the inflammation. Although no research supports the use of vitamins or herbal remedies to reduce symptoms, you may include vitamin supplements as part of your overall treatment plan. Consult your physician before taking any supplements with the disease.

Sarcoidosis

When sarcoidosis develops, small lumps called granulomas form in various organs of the body. The lungs are most commonly affected, but the lumps can develop in the eyes, on the skin or in the heart. The symptoms of the disease vary. Some people experience no symptoms while others have vague symptoms, such as fatigue. Some common symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, rash, fever, joint pain, weight loss, seizures and eye problems. Sarcoidosis has two phases; the active phase where granulomas develop and grow, and the inactive phase where the inflammation shrinks.

Treatment

Some people with sarcoidosis do not require any treatment. The disease improves on its own. Other people require medications to reduce inflammation and slow down the growth of granulomas. Doctors commonly prescribe corticosteroids to treat the condition. Other medications that may be prescribed include methotrexate, azathioprine, hydroxychloroquine, chlorambucil, cyclophosphamide and pentoxifylline. In some rare cases, people with sarcoidosis may need a lung or heart transplant if the disease has caused severe damage to these organs. The overall prognosis for the disease is good and the fatality rate is under 5 percent.

Vitamin D and Sarcoidosis

Some evidence has suggested that people with sarcoidosis are more likely to have high levels of vitamin D. A 1989 study published in “Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of North American” was the first to suggest the link. Researchers found that patients with sarcoidosis have an overproduction of vitamin D, leading to some of their symptoms. Research published in 1995 in the French journal “Revue des Maladies Respiratoires” suggested that vitamin D may also increase the formation of granulomas in the lungs. This would suggest that vitamin D supplementation, even during an inactive phase, is not a good idea for people with sarcoidosis.

Other Vitamins

In some cases, the treatment of sarcoidosis or the disease itself causes osteoporosis. Your physician may prescribe vitamin D and calcium to prevent osteoporosis. Follow your physician’s recommendations. Alternative therapies may be used to treat sarcoidosis although there is no indication that these therapies are effective. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, a daily multivitamin that is high in antioxidants can promote overall health. The enzyme bromelain may help with inflammation from the disease. Taking a fish oil supplement may also help to reduce inflammation.