Lupus Patients Are at Risk for Vitamin D Deficiency

Disease in these patients flares with sun exposure, but photoprotection can produce vitamin D deficiency.

Photosensitivity is one of the major cutaneous manifestations of lupus erythematosus (LE). Therefore, physicians regularly counsel their LE patients to avoid the sun and to apply sunscreen. However, sun exposure is also a major source of vitamin D, converting 7-dehydrocholesterol to pre–vitamin D in the skin. Vitamin D is essential for bone metabolism and may prevent the development of some forms of cancer, certain infectious diseases, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and autoimmune diseases. Levels of vitamin D required to promote health or to prevent disease are not well defined, but many authorities suggest that a serum concentration of 75 nmol/L is sufficient. Investigators from Ireland evaluated whether photoprotection adversely …

Reviewing Author

Craig A. Elmets, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board Astellas Pharmaceuticals

EquityVaxin

Grant / Research support NIH; NIH/NCI; Veteran’s Administration; Ferndale Laboratories; Kyowa Hakko Kirin Pharma, Inc.

Editorial boards Cancer Prevention Research; Photodermatology, Photoimmunology, & Photomedicine; UpToDate; eMedicine; Journal of Dermatological Sciences; JAMA Dermatology

Leadership positions in professional societies American Academy of Dermatology (Vice Chair, Committee on Science and Research); Photomedicine Society (Board of Directors)