What Are Autoimmune Diseases?
Autoimmune diseases occur when the body’s immune system mistakenly targets its own tissues. Examples include multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). These conditions can cause inflammation, tissue damage, chronic symptoms, and a broad competitive impact on quality of life. One thing all autoimmune patients have in common is a deficiency in vitamins B12 & D. The problem with many oral vitamins is that we pass most of the active ingredient through our body without absorption.
Why Nutrient Status Matters
Emerging research shows that nutrient deficiencies may not only result from chronic disease, but in some cases, predispose — or at least contribute — to the risk and progression of autoimmune disorders. Two nutrients of particular interest are vitamin D and vitamin B12. Correcting deficiency in these areas is not a cure-for autoimmunity, but it is a critical foundation for health, symptom management, and possibly risk-reduction.
Vitamin D: The Immune-Modulating Hormone
Vitamin D is technically a hormone. It plays a role in regulating immune responses: it influences innate immune cells, modulates adaptive immune responses (including T cells), and helps keep inflammation under control.
Key findings:
• People with autoimmune diseases frequently have low 25-hydroxy vitamin D (“25-OH D”) levels.
• In a large randomized trial of over 25,000 older adults, supplementation with 2,000 IU/day vitamin D3 reduced the incidence of new autoimmune diseases by ~22%. (Wang et al., 2022)
• In already-established disease (for example MS), trials show mixed results: some indication of fewer MRI lesions or modest benefits when added to disease-modifying therapy, but not consistent enough to rely upon alone.
What this means for Nurse Jane customers:
While vitamin D supplementation should not replace clinician-prescribed therapies for autoimmune disorders, maintaining an adequate vitamin D status appears to be a safe, supportive measure. For our chronic-condition customer base, we recommend:
• have your clinician check 25-OH D levels
• if low, discuss supplementation to target a healthy range (often ~30-50 ng/mL, though individual targets vary)
• follow-up after 8-12 weeks to ensure adequacy and safety (especially if using high doses)
• incorporate safe sun exposure and vitamin D-rich foods (such as fatty fish and fortified dairy) as part of the strategy
Vitamin B12: More Than Just Energy & Nerves
Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is vital for nerve health, red-blood-cell formation, and DNA synthesis. Importantly, B12 deficiency can result from autoimmune processes — for example, autoimmune gastritis that reduces intrinsic factor and impairs B12 absorption (i.e., pernicious anemia).
Key findings:
• Autoimmune thyroid disease, vitiligo, and type 1 diabetes have higher reported rates of B12 deficiency or low-normal B12 levels.
• B12 deficiency often presents with neurologic symptoms (tingling, balance issues, cognitive fog) or hematologic findings (macrocytic anemia).
• Treating B12 deficiency (via high-dose oral or injectable B12) is critical for reversing neurologic/hematologic damage — though it does not treat the underlying autoimmune disease itself.
What this means for Nurse Jane customers:
Given the high co-occurrence of B12 deficiency in autoimmune conditions, we recommend:
• Ask your clinician to check B12 along with markers of absorption if you have an autoimmune diagnosis (e.g., methylmalonic acid (MMA), homocysteine)
• If B12 is low or borderline, work with your clinician on appropriate supplementation (oral high-dose or injection)
• Once adequate, continue monitoring—especially if you have known autoimmune gastritis, gastric surgery, or other GI absorption issues
• Reassure yourself: correcting B12 does not replace treatment of your autoimmune condition — it supports your overall neurologic and systemic health
How Nurse Jane Supports You
At Nurse Jane, we tailor our product development and customer support with these concepts in mind:
• For our customers with autoimmune conditions, we stress the importance of nutrient status as part of a holistic health strategy (alongside clinician-led therapies).
• While our core products (gummies, gel caps) focus on high-bioavailability cannabinoid formulations, we consider nutrient adequacy (vitamin D, B12, other micronutrients) as foundational for systemic resilience.
• We encourage a “check-and-correct” mindset: nutrient levels + safe sun exposure + quality diet + clinician partnership.
Practical Next Steps
1. Schedule a lab panel with your clinician: include 25-OH vitamin D, B12, MMA/homocysteine (if indicated), and intrinsic-factor/parietal-cell antibodies (especially if neurologic-hematologic signs exist).
2. Track your levels: keep records of your lab values and review changes after interventions.
3. Supplement responsibly: only under clinician supervision—document your doses, follow-up schedule, and any symptom changes.
4. Lifestyle support: maximize safe sun exposure (especially spring/summer months in Indiana), eat B12-rich foods (animal sources or fortified foods if vegetarian/vegan), and maintain general health (sleep, stress reduction, movement).
5. Educate your clinician: sometimes autoimmune-nutrient links are under-discussed. Feel empowered to bring this topic into your appointments.
Final Thoughts
Autoimmune diseases are complex and require comprehensive care. Nutrient deficiencies—especially vitamin D and B12—are common, and while reversing a deficiency is not a substitute for disease-specific treatment, it is a vital piece of the health-foundation puzzle. At Nurse Jane, we believe true wellness begins with ensuring the body has what it needs to heal and respond—your cannabinoid treatments + nutrient adequacy + lifestyle support = a stronger platform for resilience.