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Arthritis: Vitamin D can decrease the risk

Narinder Duggal, MD, FRCPC

Most of us are aware of the role vitamin D plays in calcium metabolism and bone formation. According to a number of new studies, vitamin D is also found to have a significant role in strengthening immunity, maintaining good cardiovascular health, protecting against cancer and assisting in decreasing the risk and progression of arthritis.

Arthritis refers to a group of diseases that cause pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of motion in the joints. The number of Americans with arthritis is expected to increase from 46 million to 67 million by 2030.¹  In other words, almost 1 in 5 Americans or almost 1 in 3 Americans who are over the age of 45 years old will be affected by arthritis. Rising vitamin D deficiency may be one of the major risk factors associated with  the prevalence of arthritis. Osteoarthritis,² a degenerative disorder and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), an autoimmune disease are the two the major types of arthritis and vitamin D supplementation has found to be useful for treating both conditions.

Vitamin D has immunomodulating properties. Higher intake of vitamin D is inversely associated with a higher risk of developing RA,  as shown by The Iowa Women’s Health Study involving 29,368 women aged 55 to 69.³ During the 11 years of follow-up, 152 women developed RA.  Those subjects with greater intake of total daily vitamin D were at statistically significant lower risk of developing RA . The researchers also found that women whose diets were highest in vitamin D had the lowest incidence of RA.

Several important studies have provided evidence that vitamin D deficiency is one of the most important factors that can increase the prevalence of certain autoimmune diseases including Rheumatoid Arthritis.⁴  One of these studies that included patients with Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease (UCTD) concluded that these patients had lower serum concentration of 25(OH) Vitamin D when compared to healthy subjects. These findings support the idea that vitamin D may be a key regulator of autoimmune processes in patients with UCTD.

Optimal levels of vitamin D help in the synthesis of proteoglycans, which are crucial for development of healthy articular cartilage.⁵ In osteoarthritis, if the serum concentration of vitamin D is low, the proteoglycans in the articular cartilage suffer a loss, consequently making the cartilage harder. Gradually this ongoing process leads to large amount of cartilage damage which in turn affects the bony ends of the joint. A study in 1996, published in “Annals of Internal Medicine” identified people with pre-existing knee osteoarthritis who consumed less vitamin D and had associated low blood levels of vitamin D were three times more likely to develop worsening osteoarthritis.⁶ These finding imply the significance of vitamin D in the basic treatment of patients with osteoarthritis..

Improving vitamin D status could protect against the development of knee osteoarthritis in elderly people. These are the conclusions of The Rotterdam cohort Study.⁷  The study’s results show that vitamin D  deficiency increase the risk of knee osteoarthritis progression in patients with low bone mineral density. Similar results were noted in The Tasmanian older adult cohort study where the researcher observed that decreased knee cartilage loss is associated with vitamin D deficiency and less sun exposure.⁸

Ongoing research is expected to continually demonstrate the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and several diseases states. People with arthritis should discuss the possibility of vitamin D deficiency with their health care provider. Vitamin D10 supplementation from Synergy Therapeutics RX may be indicated in future treatment. Visit "Our Products" page to learn more or buy Vitamin D10.

References:

1.    http://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/data_statistics/arthritis_related_stats.htm. (Open link)
2.    Das SK, Farooqi A. Osteoarthritis. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 2008;22(4):657-75. (PUBMED Abstract)
3.    Merlino LA, Curtis J, Mikuls TR, et al. Vitamin D intake is inversely associated with rheumatoid arthritis: results from the Iowa Women's Health Study. Arthritis Rheum 2004;50(1):72-7. (PUBMED Abstract)
4.    Zold E, Szodoray P, Gaal J, et al. Vitamin D deficiency in undifferentiated connective tissue disease. Arthritis Res Ther 2008;10(5):R123. (PUBMED Abstract)
5.    http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/what_osteoarthritis_000035_1.htm. (Open link)
6.    McAlindon TE, Felson DT, Zhang Y, et al. Relation of dietary intake and serum levels of vitamin D to progression of osteoarthritis of the knee among participants in the Framingham Study. Ann Intern Med 1996;125(5):353-9. (PUBMED Abstract)
7.    Bergink AP, Uitterlinden AG, Van Leeuwen JP, et al. Vitamin D status, bone mineral density, and the development of radiographic osteoarthritis of the knee: The Rotterdam Study. J Clin Rheumatol 2009;15(5):230-7. (PUBMED Abstract)
8.    Ding C, Cicuttini F, Parameswaran V, et al. Serum levels of vitamin D, sunlight exposure, and knee cartilage loss in older adults: the Tasmanian older adult cohort study. Arthritis Rheum 2009;60(5):1381-9. (PUBMED Abstract)