New research is now linking low vitamin D status to increased risk of Systemic Lupu Erythematosus and higher disease activity. Lupus is an autoimmune disease causing widespread inflammation that affects many of the body’s systems.

A previous study published in 2012 in the Arthritis Therapy and Research Journal found that vitamin D supplementation aided patients with lupus. The current longitudinal study followed patients attending the Monash Medical Centre Lupus Clinic in Australia between 2007 and 2013. This study examined the disease activity by monitoring SLEDAI-2K levels and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (vitamin D) status of individuals.

Baseline data showed that over 27 percent of individuals were Vitamin D deficient. Over a 12-month period with Vitamin D supplementation, there was a mean increase by 25 nmol/L and a decline in SLEDAI-2K. These findings support the use of Vitamin D supplementation to reduce disease activity, and also suggest that low Vitamin D status could be a cause of higher disease activity or progression. Further intervention studies should be done in order to confirm these preliminary findings.

“Association of low vitamin D with high disease activity in an Australian systemic lupus erythematosus cohort.” Lupus Sci Med 2015;2:e000064 DOI: 10.1136/lupus-2014-000064
http://lupus.bmj.com/content/2/1/e000064