Lupus and Vitamin D Advice: Can be lowest in women of color

Here’s this weeks question:

Lupus patient:

I am a black woman with lupus and am constantly dealing with low vitamin d levels. Are low levels of d common in people of color? And can having low levels be making my lupus worse?

Dr. Donald Thomas replies:

I LOVE this question because it is so important.

Vitamin D is essential for the immune system to work properly. White blood cells have receptors (attachments) on their surfaces that bind to the active forms of vitamin D that float around in our bodies. This vitamin D attachment is vital for the immune system to work properly. When vitamin D levels are low, the immune system works abnormally, increasing inflammation and lupus disease activity. Correcting vitamin D levels can reverse this problem and it is so easy and safe to do.

Lupus vitamin D deficiency symptoms? Low levels of vitamin D can be associated with fatigue and body aches. Of course, when it causes lupus to become more active, it can lead to the butterfly rash, pleurisy, and other problems. Dr. Michelle Petri even showed that correcting low vitamin D can reduce flares and reduce proteinuria!

Several studies now show that if we keep the level at 40ng/mL and higher (but not higher than 80), lupus disease activity is better. Lupus flares are associated with low vitamin D levels. People of color have lower vitamin D levels because the melanin (pigment) of the skin decreases ultraviolet light from entering the skin deep enough to help the body produce vitamin D. So, this is a common problem.

However, it is incredibly easy to treat! Everyone’s body is different, and the required dose varies a lot from person to person.

Taking vitamin D regularly and using sunscreen religiously every day are two of the safest drugs used to help treat lupus. I always include them in my patients’ medication lists.

For more in-depth information on low vitamin D and lupus:

Read chapters 3, 38, and 39 of The Lupus Encyclopedia, edition 2

Look up your symptoms, conditions, and medications in the Index of The Lupus Encyclopedia

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What are your comments and opinions?

If you have had low vitamin D levels and lupus, what has your experience been? What do you recommend for other patients?

Do you have any questions to ask Dr. Thomas?

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