Vitamin D deficiency linked to rheumatoid arthritis

Vitamin D deficiency linked to rheumatoid arthritis


(NaturalNews) A growing body of research suggests that not only may
vitamin D deficiency be a risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis, it may
also make rheumatoid arthritis patients significantly more susceptible
to cardiovascular disease.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune
disorder that occurs when the body's immune system attacks its own
tissues, particularly the joints. Because vitamin D is known to play an
important role in regulating the immune system and has been specifically
linked to the occurrence of other autoimmune disorders, many
researchers have long suspected that deficiency might increase the risk
of rheumatoid arthritis.

Confirmation of this link came in 2010, in a study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives
that looked at the effect of environmental factors on rheumatoid
arthritis risk. The researchers found that women living in the Northeast
were significantly more likely to develop the disease.

"The
results were unexpected," researcher Veronica Vieira said. "Prior to the
analysis, we were more interested in the relationship with air
pollution. I hadn't given latitudes much thought."

Because the
body produces vitamin D upon exposure to sunlight, deficiency rates are
significantly higher at latitudes farther from the equator, particularly
among people with darker skin or who regularly cover their skin with
clothing or sunscreen.

Important for the heart and bones

More recently, a study conducted by researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and published in the journal Arthritis Care Research looked at the connection between vitamin D levels and cardiovascular disease risk among rheumatoid arthritis patients. Both vitamin D deficiency and rheumatoid arthritis are known risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

The
researchers found that 41 percent of rheumatoid arthritis patients
studied were significantly deficient in vitamin D, with another 46
percent having insufficient levels of the vitamin. Participants with
lower vitamin D levels had more insulin resistance, lower levels of HDL
("good") cholesterol and more markers of inflammation, even after
adjusting for other potential risk factors such as body mass index,
antibody status, sex and ethnicity.

Higher levels of inflammation suggest that low vitamin D status may actually worsen rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.

Part of the reason that rheumatoid arthritis patients are believed to have higher rates of cardiovascular disease
is that the chronic inflammation caused by the autoimmune disorder also
attacks the heart and blood vessels. By abating inflammation and
protecting the heart, vitamin D supplementation may significantly extend
the life expectancy of rheumatoid arthritis patients.

For example, a 2008 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine
found that people with severe vitamin D deficiency were twice as likely
to die as those with sufficient levels, particularly from
cardiovascular disease.

Rheumatoid arthritis patients are also
known to have a higher risk of developing osteoporosis, a problem that
is made even worse by the fact that many of the steroids used to treat
rheumatoid arthritis can also promote bone loss. By increasing calcium
absorption in the body, higher vitamin D levels can also protect against
this effect.

Because many osteoporosis drugs do not function
well in vitamin D-deficient individuals and can actually cause vitamin D
depletion, it is especially important that people taking those drugs
monitor their vitamin D status.

Of course, getting plenty of
vitamin D is important even for people who do not suffer from
osteoporosis or rheumatoid arthritis. In addition to helping build
healthy bones and teeth, vitamin D helps regulate the immune system and
can reduce your risk of infections, heart disease, diabetes, cancer and
autoimmune disorders.

source:-
http://www.naturalnews.com/040699_rheumatoid_arthritis_vitamin_d_deficiency_cardiovascular_disease.html