A new study has found a disturbingly high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in people with another common autoimmune disorder, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) 165 people with SLE were compared with 214 control people without the illness for vitamin D levels.

Using a level of <75 nmol/L as indicating insufficiency and <50 as deficiency, almost 100% of people with SLE had vitamin D insufficiency compared with just over half the controls, and 90% of people with SLE were frankly deficient versus only 20% of controls.

It is clear that low vitamin D status is a potent risk factor for SLE just as it is for MS. The author makes the case that vitamin D supplementation and its evaluation in the treatment of SLE should be considered.

To read the full the study, click here.

Vitamin D deficiency in Saudi patients with systemic lupus erythematosus