Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Vitamin D and Calcium
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)
increases your child's risk of
osteoporosis in two ways. Pain and swelling can cause
your child to be less active, which leads to loss of bone mass. And
long-term corticosteroid treatment for JIA also depletes bone mass.
To
minimize osteoporosis during treatment, experts recommend adequate daily intake
of vitamin D and calcium.
1
Foods high in calcium include dairy products such as milk,
cheese, and yogurt; calcium-fortified orange juice; and broccoli. Vitamin D is
found in dairy products. Being out in sunlight for at least 15 minutes each day
without sunscreen will also help with vitamin D intake. Your body makes vitamin
D when it's exposed to sunlight.
Food-based sources of vitamins
and minerals are better than dietary supplements, which are not as fully
absorbed by the body. If your child has little appetite for food, though, your
doctor may recommend dietary supplements.
Citations
-
Giannini EH, Brunner HI (2005). Treatment of juvenile
rheumatoid arthritis. In WJ Koopman, LW Moreland, eds., Arthritis and Allied Conditions, 15th ed., vol. 1, pp.
1301–1318. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
|
By
| Healthwise Staff |
|
Primary Medical Reviewer
| Susan C. Kim, MD - Pediatrics |
|
Specialist Medical Reviewer
| John Pope, MD - Pediatrics |
|
Last Revised
| June 5, 2012 |
Last Revised:
June 5, 2012
Giannini EH, Brunner HI (2005). Treatment of juvenile
rheumatoid arthritis. In WJ Koopman, LW Moreland, eds., Arthritis and Allied Conditions, 15th ed., vol. 1, pp.
1301–1318. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
