Lupus treated again by daily Vitamin D - 4,000 IU or 8,000 IU (slightly better) - RCT

Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Fatigue and Disease Activity in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Cureus 17(2): e78830. doi:10.7759/cureus.78830

Oana Raluca Predescu • Florentin Ananu Vreju • Anca Emanuela Musetescu • Alesandra Florescu • Stefan Cristian Dinescu • Cristina Elena Bita • Andreea Lili Barbulescu • Paulina Lucia Ciurea

image

less fatigue, but little reduction if Lupus disease activity

Note: Other Lupus studies have found that the Vitamin D Receptor needs activation
by VDR activators or weekly instead of daily Vitamin D

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation and various clinical symptoms, with vitamin D deficiency suggested as a contributing factor. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of vitamin D supplementation on fatigue and disease activity in SLE patients.

Methods: Patients diagnosed based on EULAR/ACR 2019 criteria were divided into three groups: no supplementation, 4000 IU, and 8000 IU of vitamin D daily for six months . Clinical assessments included serum complement levels (C3 and C4),

  • fatigue scores (Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy ( FACIT )

  • Fatigue and Fatigue Severity Scale ( FSS ), and

  • disease activity (Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment-Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index ( SELENA-SLEDAI ).

Results: Results showed significant increases in vitamin D levels and serum complement levels in the supplementation groups. Serum complement levels and fatigue scores improved significantly in both the 4000 IU and 8000 IU groups. Additionally, there was a slight reduction in SELENA-SLEDAI scores in the treated groups, but without statistical significance.

Conclusions: The findings suggest that vitamin D supplementation positively affects fatigue and some parameters of disease activity in SLE patients, though its overall impact on disease activity needs further investigation.

Download the PDF from VitaminDWiki

Related in VitaminDwiki