Depletes Vitamin D. This medication is commonly used for Inflammation
Research suggests corticosteroids can lower vitamin D levels in the body by increasing its breakdown. This is a concern because vitamin D plays a crucial role in bone health and the immune system, and corticosteroids themselves can weaken bones. A study found that calcium and vitamin D3 supplements helped prevent bone loss in the lower back (lumbar spine) and hip (trochanter) for people with rheumatoid arthritis who were on low-dose corticosteroids. Evidence suggests vitamin D may work synergistically together with corticosteroids to improve asthma treatment by boosting the effectiveness of corticosteroids or by overcoming resistance to these medications in some patients.
Banerjee A, Damera G, Bhandare R, Gu S, Lopez-Boado Y, Panettieri R Jr, Tliba O. Vitamin D and glucocorticoids differentially modulate chemokine expression in human airway smooth muscle cells. Br J Pharmacol. 2008 Sep;155(1):84-92. de Nijs RN, Jacobs JW, Algra A, Lems WF, Bijlsma JW. Prevention and treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis with active vitamin D3 analogues: a review with meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials including organ transplantation studies. Osteoporos Int. 2004 Aug;15(8):589-602. Wakeman M. A Literature Review of the Potential Impact of Medication on Vitamin D Status. Risk Manag Healthc Policy. 2021 Aug 14;14:3357-3381.
Vitamin D3 (Cholcalciferol) (1000 IU) — 25 mcg
In adults, chronically low calcium intake can quietly erode skeletal integrity, contributing to osteopenia, osteoporosis, and a higher risk of low‑trauma fractures over time. In children, inadequate calcium (often alongside vitamin D deficiency) impairs normal mineralization of the growing skeleton, leading to rickets with bone pain, deformities, and delayed growth, while in adults the same process manifests as osteomalacia with diffuse bone pain and muscle weakness rather than early fractures. The encouraging reality is that optimizing daily calcium intake, paired with sufficient vitamin D, protein, and weight‑bearing activity, has been shown to improve bone mineral density and meaningfully reduce fracture risk in at‑risk populations.