Several rheumatic diseases treated by high-dose vitamin D, but made worse if Calcium was added – April 2022

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Effects of vitamin D with or without calcium on pathological ossification: A retrospective clinical study

Exp Ther Med. 2022 Apr;23(4):285. doi: 10.3892/etm.2022.11214. Epub 2022 Feb 15.
Libin Liang 1, Tong Tong 2, Luyang Qin 3, Jing Xie 4, Yanping Xu 1, Yuguo Qin 1, Lansen Zhang 1, Dehui Liu 1, Xiaoyun Niu 1, Xinglong Tong 1

For age <40 years (similar for age >40 years)

Vitamin D protects against the development and severity of several rheumatic diseases. However, the effect of vitamin D on the pathological ossification associated with rheumatic diseases remains unknown. The present retrospective study analyzed the clinical outcomes of vitamin D without calcium compared with vitamin D with calcium on pathological ossification in joints and ligaments. Data were collected from patients who were diagnosed with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or spondylarthritis, and the presence of pathological ossification in joints or ligaments was confirmed by X-ray, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging examination.
A total of 2,965 patients aged 18-75 years old were included, among who,

• 1,725 were included in the vitamin D alone group and
• 1,240 in the vitamin D with calcium group.

Vitamin D was administered intramuscularly (300,000 IU) once every 7-10 days, 4-6 times in total. Patients who ingested an oral calcium supplement (1,000 mg/day; =5 days/week) were considered the vitamin D with calcium group. The clinical outcome was evaluated based on the imaging changes of pathological ossification, which were classified as alleviation, aggravation and unchanged. The bone mineral density (BMD) was determined, and the calcium concentration in the serum and urine was measured. The results revealed that vitamin D alone alleviated pathological ossification, while vitamin D combined with calcium aggravated pathological ossification in the majority of patients (P<0.0001) independent of disease type and patient age. BMD measurements demonstrated a decreasing trend in the vitamin D alone group, whereas they exhibited an increasing trend in the vitamin D combined with calcium group. The urine calcium concentration increased after vitamin D treatment alone. Therefore, it was concluded that vitamin D exerted both pro-resorptive and anti-resorptive actions on pathological ossification. The bidirectional action of vitamin D on bone metabolism may depend on exogenous calcium supplementation.
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VitaminDWiki - Osteoarthritis category

61 items total - see also Overview Osteoporosis and vitamin D

Overview Osteoarthritis and Vitamin D
Knee Osteoarthritis treated by Vitamin D - meta-analysis Aug 2023
See also Ankylosing spondylitis
Rheumatic Diseases often treated by Vitamin D, may need 40-60 ng – Oct 2021
Knee osteoarthritis: Vitamin D is the 4th best treatment – meta-analysis Oct 2020

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VitaminDWiki - Rheumatoid Arthritis category

118 RA items     See also Overview Rheumatoid Arthritis   Autoimmune  Inflammation   Pain - Chronic

    Highlights of RA studies in VitaminDWiki
RA worse if low Vitamin D

• Rheumatoid Arthritis score extrapolates to zero at 51 ng of Vitamin D (India) – June 2024
• Rheumatoid Arthritis is more severe if low vitamin D – July 2023
• Rheumatoid arthritis pain was 5.8 X more likely if low vitamin D – Aug 2017
• Adaptive and innate immune system, vitamin D genes, and Rheumatoid Arthritis – June 2019
• Rheumatoid Arthritis strongly associated with low vitamin D – meta-analysis April 2016
• Rheumatoid Arthritis associated with lower vitamin D and higher latitude – meta-analysis Jan 2016

10 RA and Vitamin D Receptor (auto-updated)

RA Treated by Vitamin D

• Several rheumatic diseases treated by high-dose vitamin D, but made worse if Calcium was added – April 2022
• Rheumatic Diseases often treated by Vitamin D, may need 40-60 ng – Oct 2021
• Rheumatoid Arthritis pain reduced by monthly 100,000 IU of Vitamin D – Oct 2018
• Rheumatoid arthritis reduced by 440,000 IU of Vitamin D over 4 months – Oct 2015
• Connective tissue disorders (Lupus, RA, etc) treated by vitamin D – May 2016
• 43 percent of Rheumatoid Arthritis patients have Vitamin D prescriptions (15 countries) – June 2017
• Big increase in vitamin D supplementation in just 2 years after Swiss rheumatology report – Dec 2013
• High dose vitamin reduced pain of fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis - July 2015
  • Note: Vitamin D receptor problems (such as RA) are best treated by infrequent large doses of Vitamin D

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VitaminDWiki - Calcium and Vitamin D category

Calcium often causes major health problems

• Many studies have identified many health problems with Calcium supplementation
• Less than 750 mg of Calcium supplement daily - VitaminDWiki has recommended for 7 years
• Some believe that the health problems are due to the spike in blood Calcium from taking the Calcium only once per day - Dr. Greger - March 2018 text and short video
• Perhaps there would be a shorter Calcium spike (and less of a problem) if take Calcium multiple times a day
• Perhaps also less of a problem if the Calcium is plant-based
• Calcium from milk also causes 5+ major health problems 2015 Dr. Greger
  • No apparent health problems from processed dairy products (cheese, yogurt, etc)
• Calcium supplements are less of a problem if have adequate Vitamin K
  • which keeps Calcium from forming blood-system plaque
• 2.7X increase in rate of Colon polyps in 6-10 years RCT March 2018
• Calcium from food or supplements associated with more deaths (US Cohort of 31,000 people) – April 2019

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VitaminDWiki - Plant-based Calcium probably better than rock-based