People with inflammatory types of arthritis sometimes turn to oral steroids to control their symptoms. Some use it when they have a flare of symptoms, but others take the drugs routinely -- trying to keep the dose as low as possible to minimize side effects. According to researchers from Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and study results which were published in the September 28, 2011 online edition of The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, people who take oral steroids are twice as likely to have vitamin D deficiency than the general population.
The study involved more than 31,000 adults and children. Severe vitamin D deficiency was defined in the study as blood levels below 10 ng/ml. Levels between 20 and 50 ng/ml are generally considered acceptable, although optimal vitamin D levels are still sometimes debated. Severe deficiency is clearly a problem, however, because it is associated with conditions like osteomalacia, rickets, and muscle weakness. Steroids may cause the deficiency by increasing levels of an enzyme which inactivates vitamin D. Researchers concluded that doctors should be diligent about testing patients on oral steroids for vitamin D levels and treating the deficiency if found.
Related Resources:
- The Facts of Corticosteroids
- Prednisone - 10 Things You Should Know
- Medrol Dosepak - What You Need to Know
- Vitamin D Insufficiency Prevalent Among Psoriatic Arthritis Patients
- More About Steroids
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