Q: Can Getting More Vitamin D Improve My Ra Symptoms
It might. Right now it looks like rheumatoid arthritis patients tend to have lower vitamin D levels, says Dr. Hylland. So we recognize it probably plays an important role. Dr. Hylland estimates over half of his own RA patients are D deficient. Vitamin D levels may impact the severity of RA, too. In a 2018 study from India, RA patients with the most severe symptoms had D levels far lower than the average level among patients in remission or those with mild symptoms. Other studies have found similar results, prompting medical researchers to speculate whether vitamin D supplementation should be considered in RA treatment.
The Dangers Of Too Much Vitamin C
In 2004, Duke researchers found that when patients with osteoarthritis consumed high amounts of vitamin C, they were more at risk for developing bone spurs and joint damage. This was due to a protein in the blood triggered by vitamin C. Because a vitamin C deficiency can put you at a higher risk of developing arthritis, its important to find the right balance.
Bone Mineral Disease Management In Ra Patients And Others
Despite our cautionary notes, we recognize that the prescription of calcium and vitamin D supplements to those at high risk of osteoporosis is warranted according to current recommendations . RA, like age, lifestyle, and hormonal and nutritional factors, should be considered a risk factor for osteoporosis. The presence of one or more of these risk factors may lead to measurement of bone mineral density by dual x-ray absorptiometry , and should result in advice to the patient on adequate calcium and vitamin D intake , exercise, and lifestyle modification. Intervention for the prevention of bone loss should be considered when the DXA T score is less than approximately â1.0 to â1.5 in the presence of osteoporosis risk factors. This intervention may include vitamin D and calcium supplementation as well as lifestyle advice.
Presently the decision to treat a patient with vitamin D and calcium supplements is commonly based on simple osteoporosis risk factors and DXA results rather than serum 25D levels. This practice may be analogous to giving statins to individuals at high cardiovascular risk irrespective of their cholesterol level. Whether measurement of serum 25D helps to further improve stratification for risk of osteoporosis remains to be determined, although there is some evidence that a sizable proportion of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis are not necessarily vitamin D deficient .
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Vitamin D For Psoriasis
Overview
Plenty of people with psoriasis use different combinations of medications to treat the condition. For some, the psoriasis symptoms may improve significantly just by increasing their vitamin D.
Vitamin D, which your body can make when exposed to sunlight, has many health benefits that may help treat psoriasis. Vitamin D deficiencies have been linked to psoriasis. While a deficiency doesnt seem to cause psoriasis outright, it may impair the bodys ability to keep the skin healthy. This may increase flares. When taken in healthy doses, vitamin D can help treat psoriasis. Heres how.
Vitamin D possesses different health benefits that can help treat several types of psoriasis, including scalp psoriasis.
A study from 2011 found that vitamin D can strengthen the immune system. Because psoriasis is an autoimmune response, this effect could help treat the condition internally.
Topical oils and ointments for psoriasis containing vitamin D can also help treat flares. Vitamin D can slow the growth of new cells, so vitamin D oil applied directly to the flare can help thin the plaque.
There are different forms of vitamin D that you can use to help treat your psoriasis.
Why Should You Test Your Crp Levels
Chronic inflammation is a warning sign that somethingâs wrong in your body. Early clues of chronic inflammation include persistent pain in your joints or muscles, high blood pressure, and a feeling of lethargy that just doesnât seem to go away.
Early clues of chronic inflammation include persistent pain in your joints or muscles, high blood pressure, and a feeling of lethargy that just doesnât seem to go away.
Chronic inflammation is also connected with more extreme health conditions, such as arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, atherosclerosis, and cancer â to name just a few. And chronic inflammation can sneak up on you, too: you wonât always know you have it until it seriously harms your health. But you can take measures to protect against that possibility â like checking your CRP levels with EverlyWellâs Vitamin D and Inflammation Test.
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Vitamin D And Inflammation
The discovery that the active vitamin D metabolite 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D , which is enzymatically derived from 25D in the kidney, has immunomodulatory properties in animal and tissue models has stimulated much excitement. The potential immunomodulatory properties of vitamin D, through interaction of the 1,252Dâvitamin D receptor transcription factor complex with nuclear vitamin D response element genetic sequences, have been excellently reviewed . The general theme in these studies is that vitamin D, via VDREs, regulates the immune response by a variety of mechanisms, such as decreasing antigen presentation , inhibiting the proinflammatory Th1 profile , and inducing Treg cells . Such effects provide a clear theoretical basis for a role of vitamin D deficiency in the development and progression of autoimmune inflammatory conditions. Indeed, data from animal models from more than a decade ago indicate that the 1,252D metabolite and its analogs may suppress collagen-induced arthritis . Furthermore, other data suggest that vitamin D receptor agonists may also prevent and suppress established collagen-induced arthritis .
Research: Vitamin D Supplementation Improves Quality Of Life And Physical Performance In Osteoarthritis Patients
University researchers in Thailand wrote in the July 2017 edition of the international medical publication Nutrients of how much supplementation would offer benefits in patients:
Here are the highlights of this research:
- One hundred and seventy-five primary knee osteoarthritis patients with low levels of serum 25D received 40,000 IU vitamin D per week for six months.
- Baseline vitamin D status, 58.90% of patients had vitamin D insufficiency, and 41.10% had vitamin D deficiency.
- After vitamin D supplementation for six months, 57.10% of patients had vitamin D sufficiency and 42.90% had vitamin D insufficiency.
Results:
- Patient quality of life and pain both improved significantly from baseline to the six-month time point.
- Knee osteoarthritis patients demonstrated significant improvement in grip strength and physical performance measurements after vitamin D supplementation.
- Vitamin D supplementation for six months also reduced oxidative protein damage.
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An Orange Is A Healthy Snack Right Maybe Not Here’s What You Need To Know About The Vitamin C
An apple a day keeps the doctor away. But what about oranges? Citrus fruits are loaded with the antioxidant vitamin C, which has been linked to an improved immune system, wound healing and even preventing arthritis. Perhaps your rheumatologist has recommended a vitamin C regimen every day.
Unlike some other vitamins, our bodies cant make vitamin C, so we need to obtain it from our diets. When we dont get enough vitamin C, we can experience fatigue, slower healing and more infections. According to the Arthritis Foundation, taking vitamin C may help prevent inflammatory arthritis. Unfortunately, when it comes to vitamin C, you can definitely have too much of a good thing.
This is how the vitamin C arthritis-connection could be affecting you.
Eat Foods Rich In Vitamin D
You can also get more vitamin D by adjusting your diet. For example, this important vitamin is found in certain types of fish, such as salmon and mackerel. Small amounts of it are also found in egg yolks, cheese, and beef liver.
Few other foods contain vitamin D naturally. However, some are fortified with it. For example, vitamin D is added to many brands of milk, cheese, and breakfast cereals.
Its important for people with RA to get their vitamin D levels checked. If you cant get enough vitamin D from sunlight and diet alone, your doctor may suggest taking a vitamin D supplement.
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Orthopedic Care In Ohio
If you are suffering from joint pain, the highly skilled and board-certified physicians at Spectrum Orthopaedics will work with you to develop a treatment plan that may include supplements, pain management, and other orthopedic and rehabilitation services.
Call the friendly staff at our North Canton office at 305-0838 or toll-free at 469-2663 to schedule your appointment, or use our online appointment request form. We look forward to serving you with comprehensive and compassionate orthopedic care.
Vitamin D And Psoriasis Linkage
In psoriasis, vitamin D is involved in the maintenance of cutaneous barrier homeostasis. Several studies identified an association between polymorphisms of vitamin D receptor and psoriasis susceptibility . Richetta et al., have found that the A-1012G promoter polymorphism of the VDR gene is associated with psoriasis risk through a lower expression of VDR mRNA, favoring conditions that may alter cutaneous barrier and the development of psoriatic lesions . In addition, in psoriatic skin a decreased expression of VDR and reduced tight-junction proteins is associated . Tight junctions are fundamental to regulate adhesion and permeability of keratinocytes, and to polarize cutaneous cell differentiation, to regulate extracellular calcium gradient, interacting with nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins and influencing the regulation of specific genes involved in keratinocytes differentiation and proliferation . Different studies have focused on the possible role of low vitamin D status in the pathogenesis of psoriasis .
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What Is Vitamin D And How Is It Related To Inflammation
As its name implies, EverlyWellâs Vitamin D and Inflammation Test also checks your bloodâs vitamin D levels. So what is vitamin D â and what does it have to do with inflammation?
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble compound thatâs created when sunlight strikes your skin. Its importance to your wellbeing can hardly be overstated. For instance, vitamin D helps your body use calcium much more effectively, contributing to a healthier, stronger skeletal system. Vitamin D also supports the immune system. Thereâs also evidence that low levels of vitamin D are linked with higher levels of inflammation â which highlights the important role vitamin D plays in shaping your health.
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble compound thatâs created when sunlight strikes your skin.
Many people donât get enough vitamin D, partially because people are less exposed to sunlight today than in the past. In fact, vitamin D deficiency is so rampant â close to half of the worldâs population have insufficient vitamin D levels â that some have called it an âepidemic.â
So checking your vitamin D levels is not only important in and of itself , but itâs also a useful way to discover if you have inflammation in your body.
Could Vitamin D Really Cure Your Arthritis
Just in case there were any doubts about the importance of vitamin D – the ‘sunshine’ vitamin – two major studies published last week confirmed just how essential it is for good health.
One study found that people with higher levels in their blood were more likely to survive cancer, the other that having very low levels increased your risk of cardiovascular disease.
Previous research has linked high levels with fighting off infection and helping with all sorts of chronic problems. But there is a catch: we make most of our vitamin D when our skin is exposed to fairly strong sunlight and we can get more from oily fish and a few foods like cereals that have been fortified with it.
But to obtain the benefits suggested by this new research you have to have a level in your blood that is four or five times higher than we in the UK can get from occasionally exposing our face and hands to the sun on the way to work or having the odd meal of oily fish.
Now a new and controversial book by an American doctor suggests that taking even higher levels of the vitamin – 10 to 15 times the recommended amounts – can work wonders.
Dr James Dowd, who works at the Arthritis Institute of Michigan, has been prescribing vitamin D to people suffering from chronic disorders such as arthritis, back pain and headaches and the result, he claims, is a huge improvement in their symptoms.
He devised the ‘Vitamin D Cure’ which he used on himself, and patients such as Barbara.
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Vitamin And Mineral Guide For Arthritis
Learn about key vitamins and minerals and which ones are especially important when you have arthritis.
Vitamins and minerals play a critical role in staying healthy, but getting enough of certain nutrients is even more important when you have arthritis. This guide provides thorough research of key vitamins and minerals to help you figure out what you may be missing. But remember: While some supplements may help arthritis symptoms, nothing can substitute doctor-prescribed medications, a healthy diet and exercise. Always talk to your doctor before adding a new supplement, vitamin or mineral to your regimen. Just because something is natural doesnt mean it cant cause side effects or interact with medications. For more tips on choosing safe supplements, read this article.
Calcium
What it does: Calcium is an essential mineral thatmaintains strong bones and teeth regulates muscle contractions transmits nerve impulses and helps release essential hormones and enzymes. It also helps prevent osteoporosis and fractures, which are higher risks among people with rheumatoid arthritis and those taking corticosteroids.
How much:Experts recommend 1,200 mg a day for healthy adults, but people with inflammatory arthritis may need more up to 1,500 mg for men and postmenopausal women. Recent research has debunked the claim that calcium supplements raise heart attack risk.
Too much:Tolerable upper limit = 2,500 mg.
Chromium
Too much:No tolerable upper limit has been determined.
Iron
Bioavailability And Influence Of Processing And Cooking
The vitamin D, like other fat-soluble vitamins , is absorbed incorporated in mixed micelles from the intestine into the enterocytes by non-saturable passive diffusion. Subsequently, the vitamin D is transported in the chylomicrons via lymph to the circulation . The more polar metabolite 25D is absorbed better and faster than vitamin D because it is also taken up directly from the proximal jejunum into the portal vein . There are few data on its availability from natural sources. The absorption of vitamin D from supplements may differ depending on the used vehicle substance, such as oils, powders, ethanol . For example, it has been reported that the bioavailability of vitamin D from fortified hard cheese is equivalent to supplements and that vitamin D bioavailability is not influenced by the fat content of the fortified milk .
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Vitamin D And Joint Pain
Vitamin D is vital for bone and muscle function and may have anti-inflammatory effects. As a result, many people believe that vitamin D plays a role in relieving joint pain, particularly where inflammation is the cause.
Some research links vitamin D deficiency to RA, which is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the joints.
- A review of studies from 2016 showed that people with RA had notably less vitamin D in their blood than people without RA. They also found that people with RA were more likely to have a vitamin D deficiency.
- A research paper from
- also help improve mood and symptoms of depression.
However, a large-scale Cochrane study from 2015 concluded that the current evidence is not strong enough to establish a definite link between vitamin D deficiency and chronic pain conditions such as RA. Therefore, researchers need to provide more evidence.
The body can either create vitamin D through exposure to sunlight or obtain vitamin D from the diet. Key sources of vitamin D include:
How Does Vitamin D Affect Rheumatoid Arthritis
Low levels of vitamin D have been linked to increased risk and activity of a variety of autoimmune conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, diabetes mellitus and inflammatory bowel disease. Research suggests that there may be an association between vitamin D deficiency, juvenile arthritis, and inflammatory arthritis. Some studies have suggested that vitamin D could help manage inflammation related to arthritis, due to the role vitamin D plays in regulating immune and inflammatory responses in the body.
Vitamin D acts as an immune system modulator by suppressing inflammation associated with both the innate and adaptive immune response. Studies have shown that vitamin D plays a role in both the activation of immune cells for helping the body fight off infections, and also in suppressing immune response in cases of hyperinflammation. This excessive inflammation is what happens in the body in cases of rheumatoid arthritis. In response to foreign pathogens, the immune system releases small proteins called cytokines, which trigger an immune response to help fight off infections. Sometimes this response goes into overdrive and excessive amounts of cytokines are released. This is known as a cytokine storm and can cause hyperinflammation. Vitamin D decreases inflammation by suppressing the production of inflammatory cytokine cells and facilitating the production of anti-inflammatory cytokine cells.
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What Is Gluten Free
With gluten-free diets getting more and more attention these days, you may wonder if going gluten-free would help reduce your psoriasis symptoms.
The jury is still out on eliminating gluten â a complex protein found in wheat, barley and rye. In a small number of cases, eliminating gluten can lead to improvements. However, following a gluten-free diet, which is very restrictive, is a major commitment. Itâs not a step you should take unnecessarily.
You should discuss dietary modifications, such as following a gluten-free diet, with your health care provider prior to making any diet adjustments.
Bone Health Is Important
Dr Christine Haseler, a GP with a special interest in arthritis, says: The risk with arthritis is that you may not be mobile, so youre less likely to be spending long periods of time outdoors and topping up your vitamin D levels in the sun.
Vitamin D is essential for bone health. With osteoarthritis, especially as you get older, you may be more likely to be frail and prone to falling. If your bone health isnt good and you fall and fracture your hip, thats very serious.”
If youve had inflammatory arthritis throughout your life and if it has been persistent you may have had times without weight-bearing exercise. You may also have been on steroids, and both can lead to thinner bones and osteoporosis. Preventing thinning of the bones means you have some protection if you get into difficulty.
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