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(CNN) --
Taking daily vitamin D and fish oil supplements may help protect older adults from developing autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, thyroid disease and polymyalgia rheumatica, an inflammatory disease that causes muscle pain and stiffness in the shoulders and hips, a new study found.
People 50 and older who took 2,000 IUs (International Units) of vitamin D3 for more than five years had a 22% lower relative rate of confirmed autoimmune diagnoses, said study author Dr. Karen Costenbader, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in the division of Rheumatology, Inflammation and Immunity and director of the lupus program at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.
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That dose is two to three times the RDA for vitamin D for adults, which is 600 IU for people up to age 69 and 800 IU for people age 70 and older, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Once people had been taking vitamin D for at least two years, the rate of prevention of autoimmune disorders increased to 39%, according to the study published Wednesday in the BMJ.
The study also found a possible link between taking 1,000 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) and reduced autoimmune disorders, but the association was not statistically significant until possible cases of autoimmune disease were included in the analysis Not just confirmed cases.
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However, the study found that taking vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acid supplements, compared to placebo alone, decreased autoimmune disease by about 30%.
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Vitamin D toxicity
People shouldn't start taking vitamin D pills to increase their chances of staving off autoimmune diseases, Costenbader said, as there are significant consequences to taking too much of the supplement.
Unlike water-soluble vitamins, which can be easily eliminated by the body, vitamin D is stored in the body's fat cells and can build up to toxic levels, leading to bone pain and kidney damage.
Because the body makes vitamin D when the skin is exposed to sunlight, and milk and other foods like cereals are often fortified with vitamin D, many experts say younger, healthier people probably don't need it. vitamin D supplements, especially in amounts above the recommended level of 600 IU/day.
Levels decline with advancing age, but "I'd say everyone should talk to their doctor first before taking 2,000 international units of vitamin D on top of anything else they're taking," Costenbader said.
"And there are certain health problems, like kidney stones and hyperparathyroidism (an increase in calcium levels), where you really shouldn't be taking extra vitamin D."
The body attacks itself
Costenbader's study looked at 25,871 men and women age 50 and older who were participating in VITAL, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled research study designed to see if taking daily dietary supplements of vitamin D3 (2,000 IU) or fatty acids Omega-3 fatty acids (Omacor fish oil 1000 mg) would reduce the risk of developing cancer, heart disease and stroke in people with no history of these diseases.
That trial showed no benefit of additional supplementation in preventing cardiovascular disease or cancer.
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Because previous research has shown that both vitamin D and fish-derived omega-3 fatty acids can have a positive effect on inflammation and immunity in autoimmune disorders, Costenbader decided to use the same trial to investigate whether the supplements could prevent these diseases.
Autoimmune disease occurs when the body's natural defense system suddenly sees normal cells as invaders and starts destroying those cells by mistake.
In rheumatoid arthritis, for example, the immune system attacks the lining of the joints, creating inflammation, swelling, and pain.
With psoriasis, overactive T cells, which are among the body's best defenses, cause inflammation that creates thick, scaly patches on the skin.
In type 1 diabetes, the body's defenses destroy the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas.
There is even evidence showing that inflammation throughout the body could be part of the progression of type 2 diabetes.
Autoimmune disorders can develop at any stage of life, but show up more among older adults, particularly women, Costenbader said.
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more research needed
To date, no large randomized clinical trial (considered the gold standard of research) had investigated whether fish oil and vitamin D could actually prevent the development of autoimmune diseases.
"This is the first direct evidence in older adults that taking vitamin D or omega-3 fatty acids, or a combination, for five years reduces the incidence of autoimmune diseases, with a more pronounced effect after two years of supplementation," he said. Costenbader.
After five years of research, the study couldn't determine which of the 80 or so autoimmune diseases might benefit most from vitamin D and fish oil supplements, Costenbader said, but research is ongoing.
The study is now in its seventh year, he said, and more data should be published in the future.
Vitamin D
