RESEARCH - RA linked to vitamin D deficiency

[Guest guest]

Rheumatoid Arthritis Linked To Vitamin D Deficiency

MedicalNewsToday.com

Article Date: 09 Apr 2010 - 0:00 PDT

Women living in the northeastern United States are more likely to

develop rheumatoid arthritis (RA), suggesting a link between the

autoimmune disease and vitamin D deficiency, says a new study led by a

Boston University School of Public Health researcher.

In the paper, which appears online in the journal Environmental Health

Perspectives, a spatial analysis led by Dr. Verónica Vieira, MS, DSc,

associate professor of environmental health, found that women in

states like Vermont, New Hampshire and southern Maine were more likely

to report being diagnosed with RA.

" There's higher risk in the northern latitudes, " Dr. Vieira said.

" This might be related to the fact that there's less sunlight in these

areas, which results in a vitamin D deficiency. "

****************************************************

Read the full article here:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/184826.php

Not an MD