Women with higher intakes of vitamin D in food or food supplements had been a third less likely to have developed rheumatoid arthritis.

The calcium and vitamin D3 levels of women with rheumatoid arthritis were measured:

• calcium levels were normal
• vitamin D3 levels were generally lower than considered healthy, especially during the winter months when most people’s bodies generate little vitamin D3 through skin exposure to sunlight
• in 16% of cases vitamin D3 levels were so low there was a theoretical risk of rickets
• the lower the vitamin D3 level, the more severe the rheumatoid arthritis

Ed.- Adequate levels of calcium have also been found in people with osteoporosis. This suggests that osteoporosis may be due to the body’s failure to convert calcium into bone rather than inadequate calcium levels. However, the body does need adequate levels of vitamin D3 (as well as minerals like boron) for its calcium-into-bone conversion processs. Perhaps the medical establishment would do better to prescribe vitamin D3 rather than calcium supplements.

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