Relationship Between Serum Vitamin D Level and Disease Severity in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Background and Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes joint pain and reduces daily activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum of vitamin D and its relationship with the severity of the disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis referred to Allameh Hehlool hospital in Gonabad. Design and Methods: This cross-sectional-analytical study was performed on 92 patients referred to the rheumatology clinic of Allameh Behlool Gonabad Hospital in 2021. After obtaining the permission of the ethics committee, the samples were selected based on the desired criteria. Serum vitamin D levels in patients were measured, and data were collected using a patient information checklist and DAS28-CRP activity questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 16 and using statistically appropriate tests at a significance level less than 5%. Results: The mean age of the patients was 53.05 ± 12.33 years and most of them (58.7%) were women. Serum vitamin D level was sufficient in 65.2% of patients and the severity of the disease was in the remission in 48.9% of them. The results of chi-square test showed a significant relationship between serum vitamin D levels and disease severity in patients ( P < .001). Conclusions: Serum vitamin D levels were inversely related to disease severity and in most patients with severe disease severity, serum vitamin D levels were inadequate. vitamin D supplementation is recommended in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

The relationship of vitamin D to the MHAQ index, activity disease, and inflammation in a sample of Syrian rheumatoid disease patients

“…Vitamin D deficiency predisposes to the development of RA and burdens further by leading to severe disease activity. Multiple studies have corroborated this above finding [2][3][4][5] . However, some studies have refuted these associations [6] .…”

“…support a therapeutic role of vitamin D in these patients [2] . The VDRs have been demonstrated in macrophages, chondrocytes, and synovia cysts in rheumatoid synovium and at sites of cartilage erosion in RA patients [3] . In RA patients, measurement of vitamin D levels is particularly important as its deficiency is highly prevalent in this group.…”

“…Vitamin D may also have a role in modulating RA disease activity [4] . The distribution of vitamin D deficiency may be attributable to dietary habits, demographic features, ethnicity, and geographic distribution [3,4] . Vitamin D deficiency predisposes to the development of RA and burdens further by leading to severe disease activity.…”

“…Many genes that regulate cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis are modulated partially by vitamin D [2] . The role of vitamin D in modulating immune function is supported by the discovery of vitamin D receptors (VDRs) in peripheral mononuclear blood cells [3] . Vitamin D causes the downregulation of antigen-presenting cells, inhibition of T-cell proliferation, and decreased production of T helper cell-1 cytokines IL-2, interferon-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha [2] .…”

“…Vitamin D causes the downregulation of antigen-presenting cells, inhibition of T-cell proliferation, and decreased production of T helper cell-1 cytokines IL-2, interferon-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha [2] . Some studies have shown an association between deficiency of this disease because of its significant role in immune responses and the prevalence and severity of autoimmune diseases such as RA [3] .…”