Vitamin D and Minerals That Help Rheumatoid Arthritis

According to researchers from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, people who take oral steroids have a heightened risk of vitamin D deficiency. If you take corticosteroids for RA, you’re twice as likely to be short on this crucial vitamin than the average person.

                 If you don’t get enough vitamin D, your bones can become soft and brittle. This can raise your risk of bone fractures, deformities, and other problems.For people with RA, vitamin D can have additional benefits: RA is an autoimmune disorder, and vitamin D plays a role in the immune system. People with RA also have high levels of inflammation, and vitamin D helps mediate this condition.If you have RA, get your vitamin D levels checked regularly, and take steps to correct any nutritional deficiencies.

                  To increase your vitamin D levels, the Arthritis Foundation recommends getting 10 to 15 minutes of sunlight exposure every other day. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun helps your body produce its own vitamin D.However, too much UV ray exposure can cause skin cancer. Don’t spend too much time in the sun with your skin exposed.

         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.

              It’s important for people with RA to get their vitamin D levels checked. If you can’t get enough vitamin D from sunlight and diet alone, your doctor may suggest taking a vitamin D supplement.Vitamin D isn’t the only important nutrient when you have RA. According to the John Hopkins Arthritis Center, vitamin E deficiency is also relatively common among people with RA.