Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

2,179 Members
16,355 Posts
0 Online
Muscles & Bones
/ Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Supplements

deleted_user
deleted_user
Was wondering what everybody took for extra supplements? What they are, how they work and are they working for you? Ive been reading about ginger and turmeric, my new doc says to put it in everything I cook, says it can't hurt.
oceans11
oceans11
The Vitamin I'm most interested in is "D". I was catching up on the whole Vitamin D research & it's confusing.

I read one research from I believe it was the Auto Immune Society of UK that stated Vitamin D deficiencies weren't the "cause" but the "result" of having RA.

Prior to this I always read that Vitamin D deficiencies were very common among RA patients & was thought to be one of the "causes" of RA.

I had my routine yearly physical with my PCP & my Vitamin D levels were very low, reference was between 30-100 ng/ml but I'm at 11! He said I should start supplementing but I'm a little afraid what if taking the Vitamin D causes more harm than good?
jolinejoline
jolinejoline
Your vit D is low, from most of the older low-end of the optimum range. In recent years, the med people have lowered their expectations, so that you're probably pretty close to the low end. However, you should be careful if anybody tries to prescribe high doses, especially the REALLY high doses, like 50,000 K IU's. From what I've heard, and from my own experience, 2000 IU's is perfect, I had too much blood calcium, so an endocrinologist took me off the calcium the stepped 1000>2000 IU's and everything stabilized. Also, too much vit D can lead to kidney failure. There's an intricate balance between vit D, blood calcium, kidneys and parathyroid hormone (PHP).

Check with your doc, and see if 1000-2000 iU's of D3 supplement is good for you. Also, if you're taking calcium, ask about that, because it could mess up the works. Next time you test for vit D, ask to be tested for ionzed calcium and parathyroid hormone. Also creatinine and eGFR. All this shit works together.

Good luck.
oceans11
oceans11
@jolinejoline,

Hey thanks for your comment. Yes my doc actually prescribed EXACTLY the amount you suggested of D3 1 pill, once a day @ 2000IU. I started taking them & then noticed my RA flaring but that could have just been a coincidence because I stopped the D3 right after & although my flare symptoms have subsided I'm not 100% sure it was because of the D3 or not?
jolinejoline
jolinejoline
@oceans11

Thans for telling me about your doctor's comformatin. I think it's difficult to give experience, advice or recommendations on this forum, and I feel like your doctor let me off the hook. :)

I never associated vit D with my RA, so I can't speak to your flare symptoms, but my suggestion wou;d be to disassociate the two, if you can. Go with the supplement, retest, and keep track of all the side effects you may feel over the interval.

Best wishes to you.