High vitamin D intake linked to reduced risk of rheumatoid arthritis

A new study has found that women with the highest levels of vitamin D are 30% less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than women with the lowest levels of vitamin D.


We all know that vitamin D helps build bones. However, it seems that vitamin D plays a crucial role in our immune system, says team leader, Dr. Kenneth Saag (University of Alabama, Birmingham, USA). His study is reported in the medical journal Arthritis and Rheumatism.


He analysed data from nearly 30,000 women (aged 55-69). At the beginning of the study (1986) all the thirty thousand women were arthritis free. They were monitored for vitamin D intake during the 11-year period (with food frequency questionnaires).


During the period of this study they found 152 confirmed cases of rheumatoid arthritis.


There was a direct link between dietary and supplemental vitamin D intake and a reduced risk of rheumatoid arthritis (i.e. both ways, getting your vitamin D from food or supplements 400 IU/Day reduced rheumatoid arthritis risk).


Dietary intake reduced the risk by 28% while supplemental intake reduced risk by 34%.


Researchers found that supplemental intake reduced rheumatoid arthritis risk significantly. They found no single food which was strongly linked to rheumatoid arthritis risk. They did find, however, that those who consumed the most milk has a lower risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.


Although we are not yet sure what role vitamin D plays on our immune system 'the results from this study suggest a possible role for vitamin D in reducing the risk of an immunologic disorder', the researchers say. They added that further studies were needed to verify these findings.


SOURCE: Arthritis and Rheumatism, January 2004.