wow...I know that MTX inhibits Vit. D absorbtion and I've been told to take large otc supplements. I also thought you needed sunlight produce Vit. D and allow calcium absorbtion.

http://generalmedicine.suite101.com/article.cfm/sunlight_and_vitamin_d_deficiency

I hope your get your D up soon.

Blessings,
Missy

I am on mobic every other day and sulfadine and take calcium and vit D. I am of mediterrian decent and have olive skin so that is one mark against me. In Ohio with winter and all it is hard to catch sun a great deal of the time. Thanks for the article.
Renee

Same problem here....I've been on 50,000 once a week units for months, but the problem existed before I started taking MTX.

I'm not experiencing that. I take approximately 2800 mg per day. It seems that it could affect your calcium absorption, since Vit D helps it, but I don't know for a fact. Have you had your serum calcium checked?

Good luck.

My Vit D level is also low Havent been on MTX .Took 50,000 once weekly now taking 5000 daily. Also take Vit D supplement

Same problem..low vit.D..is it an R.A thing??

this is kind of off the subject sort of but bare with me...

I was looking up birth control pills today and trying to find interactions, etc. I found that it reduces the absorption of B-6, B-12, folic acid and magnesium off the top of my head to fairly extreme amounts. I've been on BC forever.

My point is, is I'm just now finding out this information. And it makes me wonder if we're doing something or consuming something that's resulting in a reduced absorption of Vit. D.

On a side note, they've recently found that animals that ate corn made by Monsanto and I say "made" because it was genetically modified and kick started by pesticides...anyway this stuff is found to cause organ damage in rats for the kidneys and liver. Corn is in everything. Corn oil, corn sugar, etc. Cows eat corn instead of grass which is unnatural but they gain more weight as a result and same goes for just about every other animal. Corn is shown to be highly inflammatory and is one of those things that most people with allergies, autism, gastrointestinal issues avoid. Monsantos is a company that has taken over the market by very evil conspiracy type ways....you'd have to read into it to learn more but it's really awful stuff. They have so much money and power now, they literally own like 95% of the market and they own soy too and I don't know how much.

My point is really that maybe something we're ingesting...it could be the plastic from cans, bottles and fish to who knows what that is inhibiting absorption....or do you think I'm way off base here?
Here's a link to the news article: http://blogs.barrons.com/stockstowatchtoday/2010/01/13/monsanto-report-genetically-modified-corn-causes-organ-damage-in-rats/

Sarah: No, I think you raise some valid points. I am currently taking a megadose of vitamin D. The question on my mind is, why do I keep running out of vitamin D? This is the third time I have had to supplement vitamin D in about 6 years. My question is based on the fact that vitamin D is so important and unless you are tested for it you don't know you are running low. Part of the answer for me is my skin tone. I am african american. But how many other people with dark skin make it through life just fine without vitamin D supplements? The article was interesting. Thanks for sharing.

I just had my blood work done Dec 17th and my doctor said my Vitamin D was very low also. He said to take at least 6,000 a day and we will test it in a month. He said he takes 5,000 a day. We have a family friend that had breast cancer 20 years ago and her doctor told her to take 25,000 iu (not sure how often) and she is cancer free to this day. Perhaps there is a coorelation between autoimmune diseases and a lack of Vitamin D?

There is a high correlation between lack of Vitamin D and MS. However, whether it is from living in mostly northern climes, or something else is unknown. My sister has MS, and she swears by it. She travels south a bunch in the winter, and she feels the bright sun really helps. Maybe there is something that affects the auto-immune system, and it impacts on certain types of RA? I have always taken supplements, so I keep my vit. D level stable. However about 5 years ago I developed Osteopenia, which was discovered by a bone density scan. If you have low levels of Vit. D, you might want to get that test done, because Osteoporous can be very damaging. I got rid of mine through exercise - weight and aerobics, and lots of supplements. I also have a very damaged liver from 9 years on the mthx. I am hoping it will get better now that I am off. Mine liver was off before I started mthx though. Maybe the liver gets worse with some auto-immune diseases? Interesting topic, I wish more research would be done in this area.

If anyone finds a good source of info on RA or other autoimmune diseases causing vitamin D deficiency, I'd be very interested in the link.

I've read a couple of studies that suggest vitamin D is an important component of immune reaction, essential for an anti-inflammatory response. I don't have specific links, but can look them up, if anyone is interested.

This is all very interesting. I had Fibromyalgia since 1990 and now am wondering if my vit D was tested during all those years and was low then or just after I was DX with the RA. I know it does cause pain as well. I have been taking the vit D in 50,000 units off and on for a year now, and now taking 2,000 a day as well. I will have my calcium checked soon as well just to see if the absorption problem would affect that as well. My daughter was dx with ms about 5 years ago and is now having vit d probelms too.

Renee

Doug,
I agree, I haven't found any information yet on RA or other diseases causing Vit D deficiency, only the other way around. This is such an interesting and important topic. I hope we find some answers!!!

I just did a quick search and found this article:
http://www.webmd.com/diet/vitamin-d-deficiency

The kidneys and intestines are what I'm most interested in, suggesting that perhaps our kidneys and/or intestines were not working properly to start with and maybe that lead us to the Vit. D deficiency, leading us to a downward spiral effect. But of course this is ONE theory of probably a gazillion.

So then my next question would be to everyone, do you think it's possible that your intestines were not working properly or that your kidneys were not working properly? Now remember that Corn is being said that it damages the kidneys. Again, it's possible that all of this goes around in circles. What are everyone's thoughts?
thanks!

just a thought and possible suggestion:
CoQ10 according to this article improves kidney function:
http://www.allvita.net/kidney.htm

CoQ10 is also said to be deficient in ALL autoimmune disease related disorders. Is it possible that all of this is just one big circle? Can we break into the circle and help fix the situation?

Things that weaken the kidneys are smoking, drinking, Corn, certain foods, toxins and being overweight. But you have to wonder if it's not being overweight that's a problem, but the extra bad food that's being processed.

We know that smoking is linked to RA and other autoimmune diseases. So maybe just maybe a lot of our disease really has to do with kidney function affecting other functions, affecting other functions. I'm definitely going to start working on cutting out Corn because Monsantos scares me anyway and a food that can only survive if it's kickstarted first with pesticides is in the lest, extremely scary. Corn is in EVERYTHING. I really think we should try to start cutting this out of our lives. No corn oil, change to olive oil, etc. and no processed foods. What do you guys think?
sincerely,
Sarah