According to researchers from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, people who take oral steroids have a heightened risk of vitamin D deficiency. If you take corticosteroids for RA, you’re twice as likely to be short on this crucial vitamin as the average person. If you don’t get enough vitamin D, your bones can become soft and brittle. This can raise your risk of bone fractures, deformities, and other problems.
For people with RA, vitamin D can have additional benefits: RA is an autoimmune disorder, and vitamin D plays a role in the immune system. People with RA also have high levels of inflammation, and vitamin D helps mediate this condition. If you have RA, get your vitamin D levels checked regularly, and take steps to correct any nutritional deficiencies. To increase your vitamin D levels, the Arthritis Foundation recommends getting 10 to 15 minutes of sunlight exposure every…
