Vitamin D May Not Help Knee Osteoarthritis After All

Previous studies have suggested that vitamin D may reduce progression of knee osteoarthritis. But, according to a report presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting, supplementation with vitamin D does not seem to lessen symptoms or slow progression of knee osteoarthritis.

In a recent study, participants were divided into 2 groups -- one group took vitamin D (2,000 IU daily) and the dose was adjusted to help achieve a vitamin D level higher than 30ng/ml. By the end of the study, the vitamin D group had an average vitamin D increase of 15ng/ml compared to 1.8ng/ml for the placebo group. Despite that bump up in vitamin D level, researchers found no significant change in physical function tests, x-rays, knee cartilage volume and thickness, or bone marrow lesion volume per MRI between the two groups.

Related Resources:

• Does Diet Affect Osteoarthritis?
• Low Vitamin D May Affect Knee OA
• Vitamin D Deficiency Linked to Hip OA in Elderly Men
• The Role of Calcium and Vitamin D in Osteoporosis Prevention

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