I guess it's possible.. my new rheumie checked my Vit D levels on my first visit. turns out my levels are ok.
I had just recently , before going to him, starting reading so many things about Vit D deficiency symptoms and they do seem to fit.

I wonder if Vit D levels are associated with RA , though? Is that why my doc checked? He did not say why.

Do you wear sunscreen? if so, that could explain how it could be low if you work outside.

Nope, no sunscreen. Pale skin. Lower latitudes!
I probably average two hours per day minimum.

Hiya aggie,

My 2nd opinion rheumy tested my vitamin D levels as part of my initial labs - and like you they were LOW! Mine were very low - she said I didn't QUITE have rickets, lol! Depending on your doc, many want your levels on the high end of normal, and some even higher than the "normal" range. My docs lab had a normal value of 25-80, and mine was like 16??? She wants mine at least at 60.

Apparently low vitamin D is quite common and it can be a risk for a number of things. If you read some studies, low vitamin D can put you at increased risk for developing RA. This angers me, because my 1st rheumy never checked my vitamin D level - she was treating me for UCTD for about 10 mos before it "progressed" into RA - I wonder if I had the vitamin D treated if the RA would never have developed??? Who knows.

My rheumy now said that lots of times you'll feel better once vitamin D is normal. It can take quite awhile to get to normal. She put me on 50,000 IU once a week for 3 months, then 2000 IU per day after that.

Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like low vit D is all that's wrong with you (or me!) - as it doesn't cause swelling, synovitis, etc.

How low were your vitamin D levels?

L.

I take 50,000 units per month - mine tested low. I'll get re-checked tomorrow.

Lynne

Hi, Aggie,

The first thing my PCP did when I started having joint pains was test my Vitamin D level. It was way low. I took 10,000 units of Max D3 a day for five days a week for three weeks. Then I took 10,000 a week. My Vitamin D level was still not high enough to suit her, so now I am on 10,000 units twice a week. Per my docs, low Vit D goes along with RA and Fibro. It seems they like to hang out together. I can say that getting my Vit D level up did seem to have a positive effect on my pain, but nothing major. I am seronegative, and I know I have RA. I have the bone erosions to prove it; however, taking Vitamin D is very important if your blood levels are low. I hope it does afford you some relief. Best Wishes, V

Forgot to say that my rheumy wants my Vit D levels in the 60's. I'm not there yet. They test my Vit D levels every three months. If you are taking Vitamin D, it is important to test the levels in your blood regularly, as it is not a water soluable vitamin.

My vitamin D tested low too, but nobody (i.e. my rheumy or primary care or endocrinologist) seems to have picked up on it or thinks it's important. (I have it checked regularly as part of my post-thyroid cancer blood work.) I have heard that RA may cause low vitamin D, not the other way around, but I'm not sure about that.

I take cod liver oil which has a lot of vitamin D but am still deficient.

Could people who are supplementing with Vitamin D please share what form of Vitamin D you are taking to supplement (brand, dose, etc.)? Has anyone had success in raising their Vitamin D levels through supplementation?

Thanks!

xTina

You might want to supplement with the Vitamin D3. Any brand of D3 that I've tried so far, has been good.

The 50,000 I.U. is Vitamin D2, not as good. My holistic doctor always tell me to supplement with D3. I don't think he's a fan of the 50,000 I.U. prescription version.

{{{hugs}}}

P.S. I now take 8,000 I.U. of Vitamin D3 and the brand I take is by Biotics Research. It's in a dropper form and I take under the tongue and wait a minute before swallowing it.

Thanks for including your dosage information - very helpful!

My level was 18 (I think). I am taking 10,000 IU of D3, five days per week, Thorne brand, bought at the doctors office, but not a prescription. The highest amount I've found at a store is 1000 IU of D3.

The symptoms I find interesting are the weakness and weight gain...I quit smoking in 2007, went into full-blown menopause, and son joined Marines, all at once. Gained 50 pounds without trying (or enjoying it). Like every hormone (includeing prohormone vitamin D) is out of whack. Secret hope is that I lose weight when Vitamin D levels rise.

This is an interesting discussion. My PCP and my rheumy are both determined to get my Vitamin D levels up. They think it is very important. I take Vitamin D3 10,000 units each, twice a week now.

That is strange that your low and you work outside??? Do you wear sunscreen??

When I was first diagnosed with RA December 2010, my vitamin D levels were normal. I have been taking Vitamin D3 - Costco brand for 2 years now. I do not believe that being low on Vitamin D causes RA. I do know however that it is every importatnt to have normal levels of Vitamin D as studies show that if you ever get cancer, you have better odds of fighting cancer with normal Vitamin D levels that not. I live in the Northwest where we get minimal sun and most people have low Vitamin D levels. RA is not more prevelent here than in any other state so that is why I do not believe there is a corilation between low Vitamin D and higher risk of RA. Hugs :)

Hey Aggie,

Thanks for the correlation b/w low vitamin D levels and weight gain - it seems I just LOOK at food and put on pounds, lol....maybe once I get my level up to where the doc wants it the pounds will come off :) I can only hope!

I am on the 50,000 IU per week, I think it is D2, it was what my dr. prescribed. But since then, I have heard that D3 is more easily absorbed by the body as mmcatz said.

As far as correlation with RA and vitamin D deficiency, there was an Italian study that showed the prevalence of vit D deficiency was the same in RA and non-RA people, but that low vit D levels correlated with higher disease activity and disability scores.

Low vitamin D levels are common in RA and autoimmune disease overall. The reason for this goes to the very cause of RA itself. A portion of calcium in the body is blood borne. This blood borne calcium is necessary for vitamin D metabolism. If you are unable to break down dietary proteins, because you lack proteases (pancreatic enzymes) you would not be able to carry blood borne calcium and it would be deposited in your joints and tissues. Nor would you be able to metabolize vitamin D. Taking extra calcium that you can't properly metabolize would just mean your body would have more calcium to deposit in your joints and tissues.

The same is true in taking extra vitamin D. First, supplement form of vitamin D is not a vitamin but rather it is a secosteroid and studies have shown that it will actually EXACERBATE autoimmune disease.

This would explain why even people who have regular sun exposure are still low in vitamin D. The problem is in the METABOLISM not the amount received.

Also, the heat, redness and swelling are also caused by a lack of pancreatic enzymes. Tumor necrosis factor causes these symptoms in RA. In fact, the drug Humira was designed to target tumor necrosis factor(TNF) TNF is just a normal part of your immune system. The problem is in the REGULATION of TNF. So, what is responsible for regulating TNF? PANCREATIC PROTEASES.(enzymes)

Our group here on DS- "Curing Autoimmune and Mimics" focuses on restoring these missing pancreatic enzymes. If you restore them, you would then be able to properly carry PROTEIN-BOUND calcium and also metabolize vitamin D. You can just type the group name in the upper search to find it.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090408164415.htm