If You Take Steroids You May Need More Vitamin D

Doctors frequently prescribe steroids for people with asthma, Crohn’s disease and lupus. Research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine shows that these steroids may deplete the body’s supply of vitamin D, necessitating extra supplements.

"When doctors write that prescription for steroids and they’re sending the patients for lab tests, they should also get the vitamin D level measured," said study lead author Amy Skversky, M.D., M.S., assistant professor of pediatrics at Einstein.