The link between vitamin D deficiency and rheumatoid arthritis

Research has shown that a deficiency in vitamin D may be one of the causes of the development or worsening of rheumatoid arthritis. The study, which was published in the Journal of Natural Science, Biology and Medicine, has looked at the link between vitamin D levels and rheumatoid arthritis.

• Vitamin D is said to have an immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory action.
• Deficiency in this vitamin has been associated with autoimmune disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis.
• Researchers from Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital in India conducted the study to determine the differences between vitamin D levels in the healthy population and rheumatoid arthritis patients and to correlate vitamin D levels with rheumatoid arthritis disease activity.
• The study involved 50 healthy participants and 50 rheumatoid arthritis patients – all of whom were between the ages of 18 and 75 years.
• The researchers measured and compared their serum vitamin D levels.
• They also assessed the vitamin D levels of rheumatoid arthritis patients in different stages of disease activity.
• The results revealed that 84 percent of rheumatoid arthritis were vitamin D deficient.
• Their vitamin D levels were also significantly lower than healthy participants.
• As the disease worsens, the levels of vitamin D tend to decrease.

The findings of the study suggest that vitamin D deficiency is more prevalent in rheumatoid arthritis patients and may cause or worsen the disease.

Read the full text of the study at this link.

To read more stories on the importance of vitamin D on health, visit VitaminD.news today.

Journal Reference:

Meena N, Singh Chawla SP, Garg R, Batta A, Kaur S. ASSESSMENT OF VITAMIN D IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS AND ITS CORRELATION WITH DISEASE ACTIVITY. Journal of Natural Science, Biology and Medicine. 29 January 2018; 9(1): 54-58. DOI: 10.4103/jnsbm.JNSBM_128_17