The results indicated that, among other factors, vitamin D deficiency can probably contribute to the progression of active disease in patients with SLE.
Researchers gave a group of 31 people with lupus vitamin D3 supplements for a year. Those with a vitamin D deficiency took 8,000 international units (IU) daily for 8 weeks, followed by 2,000 IU daily. Those with a vitamin D insufficiency took 8,000 IU daily for 4 weeks, followed by 2,000 IU daily.
People with lupus should avoid certain supplements, including echinacea, spirulina, and vitamin E. These supplements may increase the immune system response and trigger lupus symptoms. It is also helpful to avoid excess sun exposure, salt, and alfalfa sprouts, which may also make symptoms worse.
Vitamin D supplements really do reduce risk of autoimmune disease (New Scientist) Taking Vitamin D Daily Can Help Prevent This Disease, New Study Says (Eat This, Not That!) Taking vitamin D and omega-3 fish oil supplements every day cuts your risk of developing arthritis by 22%, study suggests (Daily Mail)
Avoid high doses of vitamin C, beta carotene, cat's claw, echinacea and ginseng, among others. Why add fuel to the fire? Doing so may cause you to slip out of remission and into more misery.
It has been confirmed that vitamin D has potent anti-inflammatory properties. It contributes to reduction in pro-inflammatory mediators and an increase in anti-inflammatory cytokines. There is also evidence that vitamin D could decrease C-reactive protein (CRP) and affect selected haematological indices.
Now, new research shows that while taking vitamin D supplements can be a great way to increase blood levels of vitamin D and avoid deficiency, it may not be an effective strategy to improve lupus disease activity.
While vitamin D is classically known for regulating calcium levels, recent studies have shown that it may play a role in modulating the body's inflammatory response too. For example, research has linked vitamin D concentrations in the blood with C-reactive protein levels (CRP), a widely used inflammatory biomarker.
Anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) are autoantibodies to the nuclei of your cells. 98% of all people with systemic lupus have a positive ANA test, making it the most sensitive diagnostic test for confirming diagnosis of the disease.
Its most useful role in lupus may be in the treatment of migraine headaches which affects many people with lupus. Patients with migraine often have lower magnesium levels.
Hydroxychloroquine: an antimalarial drug that is effective for treating lupus-related arthritis and rashes. It reduces flares by 50 percent and may also help prevent blood clots.
Research suggests that yes, you should. A recent study found that vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acid supplementation had protective effects against autoimmune diseases (including rheumatoid arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, autoimmune thyroid disease and psoriasis).
Vitamin E, zinc, vitamin A, and the B vitamins are all beneficial in a lupus diet. Vitamin C can increase your ability to absorb iron and is a good source of antioxidants.
Vitamins C, E and selenium
Also an antioxidant, selenium is often used by natural health practitioners to treat inflammation and some think it could be useful for combating the oxidative stress that leads to lupus-related fatigue.
Besides its potential benefit in improvement of SLE activity, vitamin D is known to present immune-inflammatory-modulatory effect that can benefit musculoskeletal and cardiovascular manifestations of SLE.
High levels of vitamin D3, he says, help heal the gut issues he believes are the root cause of autoimmune disorders and other diseases as well. (For a primer on how vitamin D behaves—like a hormone in the body—see this previous goop piece.)
1. Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids , which are abundant in fatty fish such as salmon or tuna, are among the most potent anti-inflammatory supplements. These supplements may help fight several types of inflammation, including vascular inflammation.
Recent evidence suggests that low vitamin D concentrations are associated with increased levels of inflammatory markers. However, there are limited studies investigating associations between vitamin D levels and inflammatory markers in the general population and much of this evidence in older adults is inconclusive.
Foods such as red meat, dairy, pastry, and beverages containing caffeine and alcohol trigger systemic inflammation, aggravating the autoimmune disease. If you are struggling with this condition, check out the most common foods that worsen autoimmune diseases so you can avoid them altogether.
People with lupus tend to suffer from recurring infections, so it's important to add lots of fresh fruits like blueberries, strawberries, cranberries, cherries, oranges and pineapples into your lupus diet. Fruits that are rich in antioxidants can strengthen your immune system and help your body fight off the harmful ...
Drug-induced lupus (DIL) is an autoimmune phenomenon where a drug exposure leads to the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) like clinical features. DIL is a clear example of an environmental trigger leading to the development of lupus in a genetically susceptible individual.