Vitamin-D Deficiency Leads To Rheumatoid Arthritis

By Cara

Tuesday, May 25, 2010, 14:42

A new study has established a link between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and vitamin D deficiency.

Females living in the north eastern United States are more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis, suggesting a link between the auto immune disease and vitamin D deficiency.

In the paper, which appears online in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, a spatial analysis led by Dr. Verónica Vieira, found that women living in states like Vermont, New Hampshire and southern Maine were more likely to report being diagnosed with RA.

"There's higher risk in the northern latitudes," says Dr. Vieira. This might be related to the fact that there's less sunlight in these areas. Sunlight is one of the most important source of vitamin D. Thus, less sunlight can result in vitamin D deficiency.

RA is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the lining of the joints, mostly in the hands and knees. This chronic arthritis is characterized by swelling and redness and can wear down the cartilage between bones. RA is more common in women than in men.