Lupus reduced with vitamin D intervention

Created February 2014

Vitamin D and cutaneous lupus erythematosus: effect of vitamin D replacement on disease severity

CLE =cutaneous lupus erythematosus = 3.5 X more chance of Vitamin D deficiencyCutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index* Before: 0.9* After 1 year: 2.7Oral vitamin D3 was recommended to cases who attended our clinic in June and July 2008, and who did not present optimal levels of 25(OH)D at or above 30 ng/ml. They were placed in the following oral vitamin D supplementation schedule: 1400 IU of cholecalciferol, plus 1250 mg of calcium carbonate, per day for 40 days, followed by a tablet twice a day of a fixed combination of 1250 mg of calcium carbonate and 400 IU of cholecalciferol for one year of treatment, according to drug labeling.Publisher wants $36 for the PDF

E Cutillas-Marco 1

A Marquina-Vila 2

WB Grant 3

JJ Vilata-Corell 4

MM Morales-Suárez-Varela 5,6,7

1Department of Dermatology, Hospital de la Vega Lorenzo Guirao, Murcia, Spain

2Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitario Doctor Peset, Valencia, Spain

3Sunlight, Nutrition, and Health Research Center, California, USA

4Department of Dermatology, Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Spain

5CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain

6Unit of Public Health and Environmental Care, Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain

7Centre for Public Health Research (CSISP), Spain

Eugenia Cutillas-Marco, Hospital de la Vega Lorenzo Guirao, Department of Dermatology, Carretera de Abarán, s/n, 30530 Cieza, Murcia, Spain. Email: [email protected]

Background The main vitamin D source is exposure to ultraviolet radiation, which aggravates cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE).

Objectives The aims of this study were to identify variables associated with lower serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels in CLE patients and assess the effect of vitamin D restoration on disease severity.

Methods Vitamin D status in 60 CLE patients and 117 apparently healthy subjects was compared. We recommended oral vitamin D3 to 27 CLE patients. After one year of treatment, changes in disease severity were assessed and compared to 25 untreated CLE patients. Disease severity was measured by the Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index (CLASI), number of exacerbations, duration of active lesions and patient assessment.

Results Presence of CLE raised the odds of having vitamin D deficiency (OR 3.47, 95% CI 1.79–6.69). Increasing age and disease duration were associated with higher odds of having vitamin D deficiency.

After a one-year follow-up, disease activity improved in the treatment group (CLASI A 2.7 ± 2.9 vs. 0.9 ± 1.4) (p = 0.003), as confirmed by the patient assessment (p = 0.01).

Conclusions Vitamin D inadequacy is more prevalent in CLE participants than in healthy controls.

Treating vitamin D insufficiency is associated with improved disease severity according to physician and patient assessments.

Publisher charges $36 for the PDF

Would really like to know how much Vitamin D was used in the intervention

3X better = 2.7 / 0.9

See also Vitamin D Life

Tags: Intervention Lupus