Vitamin D deficiency in rheumatic diseases

Abstract

Background: Vitamin D is classified as secosteroid. The main source of vitamin D is de novo synthesis in the skin. Although vitamin D is consumed in food, dietary intake alone is often insufficient, supplying only 20% of the body’s requirement. The role of vitamin D in situations other than calcium homeostasis and bone health has become very topical. It is apparent that vitamin D has significant effects on the immune system and as such may contribute to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases.

Objective: To assess the frequency of vitamin D deficiency in our patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases.

Methods: One hundred Libyan patients with rheumatic diseases who were registered in rheumatology outpatients’ clinic, Tripoli Medical Center in the period between January 2017 and June 2017 were included in the study. Blood samples were extracted from these patients and sent for vitamin D (25-hydroxycholicaciferol) level.

Results: One hundred Libyan patients with different rheumatic diseases who were registered in rheumatology out patients’ clinic, Tripoli Medical Center, in the period from January 2017 to June 2017 were included in our study. The median age was 47 years (range from 18- 58 years). Seventy (70%) patients were female and 30 (30%) patients were male. Ninety eight (98%) patients had vitamin D deficiency. Only 2 (2%) patients had normal vitamin D level. Sixty out of ninety eight (61%) of patients had vitamin D less than 10 ng/ml (ie severe deficiency).

Conclusion: Ninety eight per cent of our patients with different rheumatic diseases had vitamin D deficiency diseases.

Keywords: Vitamin D, Autoimmune rheumatic diseases