People with lupus often have vitamin D deficiency due to avoiding the sun. The ultraviolet (UV) light in sunlight may worsen skin symptoms associated with lupus. 2021 research indicates that vitamin D supplements may improve fatigue and decrease symptoms in people with lupus.
Vitamin E has been shown to reduce markers of inflammation, stabilize immune cells to prevent autoimmune attacks, and reduce levels of autoantibodies in lupus patients. Vitamin A. Retinol, the active form of vitamin A, is important for healthy skin, bones, and soft tissues, and supports healthy immune function.
Supplementing your diet with a good vitamin B complex tablet – which includes vitamin B12 – may help counteract the fatigue that's often associated with both lupus and B12 deficiency.
Researchers are now finding vitamin D to be an important factor for immune system health in addition to bone health. Not only does vitamin D appear to modulate the immune system's activity, but it may play a role in the development and severity of some autoimmune diseases, including lupus.
The Lupus Foundation of America recommends avoiding vitamin E since it may play a role in heart disease. The exact mechanism of how vitamin E affects the heart requires more research. A 2021 systematic review linked high vitamin E levels with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Learn more about vitamin E here.
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 ...
The sun is the main source of ultraviolet light and is enemy no. 1 for patients with lupus, because it can trigger the disease or trigger flares at any time in its development.
No form of treatment can cure lupus. However, there is some evidence that certain natural treatments may help reduce the symptoms and inflammation it causes. These include curcumin, omega-3s, vitamin D, and green tea. Natural treatments cannot replace medical treatment for lupus.
Apigenin, a non-mutagenic dietary flavonoid, suppresses lupus by inhibiting autoantigen presentation for expansion of autoreactive Th1 and Th17 cells.
Previous studies conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan showed that individuals with lupus who had a higher dietary intake of omega-3s reported experiencing better sleep, fewer depressive episodes, and a decrease in the presence of comorbid fibromyalgia.
In epidemiological studies, people with lower bone density tend to have lower blood magnesium levels reflecting the impact of magnesium of hormone important to bone turnover. Its most useful role in lupus may be in the treatment of migraine headaches which affects many people with lupus.
Corticosteroids (prednisone) may help reduce swelling, tenderness, and pain. In high doses, they can calm the immune system. Corticosteroids, sometimes just called “steroids,” come in different forms: pills, a shot, or a cream to apply to the skin. Lupus symptoms usually respond very quickly to these powerful drugs.
Influence on Lupus Disease Activity
Improving vitamin D status among patients with SLE may benefit other common manifestations as well, such as fatigue31 and cognitive dysfunction.
Protein should be reduced to just 6 to 8 oz/day, sodium should be limited to 2-3 g/day, and potassium should be reduced to 2000mg/day. Foods that are high in potassium include bananas, oranges, dairy, cheese, legumes, and chocolate. Additionally, phosphorus in the diet should also be reduced.
Look for nutrient-dense foods.
These foods are high in nutrients—vitamins, minerals, complex carbohydrates, lean protein, and healthy fats—and relatively low in calories. Good examples are vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fat-free and low-fat dairy, seafood, lean meats and poultry, eggs, beans and peas, and nuts.
Foods to consider avoiding
Evidence suggests that eating a whole foods diet that limits added sugar and saturated fat can reduce inflammation. A 2020 review also indicates that consuming sugar may negatively affect SLE. Therefore, limiting high fat and high sugar foods may be beneficial for lupus symptoms.
Vitamin D has been linked to autoimmuneinflammatory diseases like lupus, but its exact role in disease activity or progression remains unclear.
Some people with lupus need supplements to get enough of certain nutrients, like vitamin D. But supplements can interact with your lupus medicines, so it's important to always talk with your doctor before you start taking any supplements.
Kidneys About one half of people with lupus experience kidney involvement, and the kidney has become the most extensively studied organ affected by lupus. Lungs About 50% of people with SLE will experience lung involvement during the course of their disease.
Your doctor may recommend one or a combination of the following: 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.
Sunlight, stress, smoking, certain medicines, and viruses may trigger symptoms in people who are most likely to get lupus due to their genes. Hormones such as estrogen. Lupus is more common in women during their childbearing years when estrogen levels are highest. Problems with the immune system.
Analgesics. Your doctor may suggest over-the-counter medications designed to reduce pain and inflammation and treat fever associated with lupus. These may include acetaminophen or aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen.