Showing posts with label osteoarthritis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label osteoarthritis. Show all posts

Vitamin D Supplements and Osteoarthritis



A new study examined the effects of vitamin D supplements on knee pain from osteoarthritis. Researchers found the supplements did not relieve or slow the progression of the pain.

The study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association on March 8, 2016.

One in 10 men and about 13 percent of women over 60 suffer from osteoarthritis.

There is no treatment available for osteoarthritis that will stop the loss of cartilage that occurs as a result of this progressive disease. Many osteoarthritis patients head toward surgery and knee replacements, according to researchers.

The data in the study suggest there is little evidence to support vitamin D supplements as effective in slowing the progression of the disease or structural change in the knee.

Using vitamin D supplements to treat osteoarthritis has been considered controversial in the past; past studies have reported conflicting results.

This latest study randomly assigned osteoarthritis patients to receive either vitamin D supplements or a placebo. In this particular study, vitamin D supplements did not provide any benefits.

The best treatment, according to some experts, is to provide a joint supplement that will modify the symptoms of this progressive disease. Some experts believe no oral or injected medication will alter the disease.

Existing treatments include cortisone injections, painkillers, and anti-inflammatory drugs. While these can relieve the symptoms of osteoarthritis, none stop the disease's progression.

The research team that conducted the study assigned 400 study participants to either a placebo or to 50,000 International Units of vitamin D per month. They conducted follow-ups for two years, during which time the researchers did not observe differences between the two groups in regard to loss of cartilage, reduced pain, or improvement in bone marrow in the shin or thigh.

This study does not mean vitamin is not important for other aspects of bone health; it is in fact important to building and maintaining bone mass.


It simply doesn't appear from this and past studies, though, that vitamin D has the capacity to improve or stop the effects of osteoarthritis.