Gopal K, et al. - Researchers analyzed 100 RA cases and 50 healthy controls to determine the clinical determinants of vitamin D deficiency in multi-ethnic Malaysian rheumatoid arthritis (RA) cases and its relationship with disease activity, functional disability, and serum IL-6 levels. They observed higher levels of 25(OH)D₃ or vitamin D₃ levels in Chinese RA cases and healthy controls as compared to Malays and Indians. A negative relationship as also noted between serum 25(OH)D3 level and body mass index in RA subjects. They also noticed that vitamin D was not correlated with disease activity or serum IL-6 levels.