About This Column
Here you'll find advice on how to take a more comprehensive approach toward managing your rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Keep in mind, this column is intended to advise you on how to complement your treatment, not replace it. Please consult your doctor to determine what advice may be right for you.
Featured Article
Why Vitamin D Is Key
Aug 26, 2009
Recent studies on vitamin D suggest that it is a particularly important nutrient for people living with RA. And other studies have shown that many people have a lack of this crucial vitamin in their bodies.
Why so crucial? I'll give you 2 key reasons. One: vitamin D helps maintain the body's calcium levels. And calcium, of course, is essential to maintaining healthy bones. Two: vitamin D may help the body's immune system function properly. A lack of vitamin D can contribute to conditions like osteoporosis (a thinning of the bones) and diabetes. Researchers have also noted that a lack of vitamin D exists in many patients with autoimmune diseases.
So, healthy bones and proper immune function—those are certainly 2 key concerns for people living with RA.
What can you do? Fortunately, our bodies naturally produce vitamin D through exposure to the sun, specifically ultraviolet B rays (UVB). According to the National Institutes of Health, 10-15 minutes of direct sunlight at least 2 times per week to the face, arms, or back is generally sufficient to maintain levels of vitamin D. Sunscreen, as you might expect, can prevent the body from absorbing UVB, which prevents the production of vitamin D. So ask your doctor about what type of sunscreen and how much sun exposure is appropriate for you.
As an alternative to sun exposure, there are plenty of foods and dietary supplements that are high in vitamin D. Food items like milk and orange juice are now often fortified with vitamin D (along with calcium). And many types of fish (eg, salmon, bluefish, mahi, cod, and farmed trout) are natural sources.
Your rheumatologist can perform a simple blood test to determine the level of vitamin D in your body. And he or she can provide specific recommendations on how to increase that level if necessary. So bring it up at your next appointment. Your bones will thank you for it.
Managing Pain and Stress
