<p>Osteoarthritis is an incurable condition with few effective treatments beyond pain control. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Some observational evidence suggests that vitamin D supplements might slow progression of the disease.<br /><br />But a two-year randomized placebo-controlled study found that vitamin D did not reduce knee pain or restore cartilage.<br /><br />In an article published in The Journal of the American Medical Association last week, researchers described a study of 146 men and women with painful knee arthritis who were randomly assigned to take vitamin D supplements or placebos.<br /><br /> Vitamin D was given in quantities sufficient to raise blood levels to 36 nanograms per milliliter, a level considered sufficient for good health.<br /><br />Knee pain decreased slightly in both groups, but there were no differences in the amount of cartilage lost, bone mineral density or joint deterioration as measured by X-rays and M.R.I. scans.<br /><br />The lead author, Dr. Timothy McAlindon, chief of the division of rheumatology at Tufts Medical Center, said taking vitamin D in higher doses or for longer periods might make a difference, but he’s not hopeful.<br /><br />“Although there were lots of promising observational data, we find no efficacy of vitamin D for knee osteoarthritis,” he said. “There may be reasons to take vitamin D supplements, but knee osteoarthritis is not one of them.”</p>
<p>Osteoarthritis is an incurable condition with few effective treatments beyond pain control. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Some observational evidence suggests that vitamin D supplements might slow progression of the disease.<br /><br />But a two-year randomized placebo-controlled study found that vitamin D did not reduce knee pain or restore cartilage.<br /><br />In an article published in The Journal of the American Medical Association last week, researchers described a study of 146 men and women with painful knee arthritis who were randomly assigned to take vitamin D supplements or placebos.<br /><br /> Vitamin D was given in quantities sufficient to raise blood levels to 36 nanograms per milliliter, a level considered sufficient for good health.<br /><br />Knee pain decreased slightly in both groups, but there were no differences in the amount of cartilage lost, bone mineral density or joint deterioration as measured by X-rays and M.R.I. scans.<br /><br />The lead author, Dr. Timothy McAlindon, chief of the division of rheumatology at Tufts Medical Center, said taking vitamin D in higher doses or for longer periods might make a difference, but he’s not hopeful.<br /><br />“Although there were lots of promising observational data, we find no efficacy of vitamin D for knee osteoarthritis,” he said. “There may be reasons to take vitamin D supplements, but knee osteoarthritis is not one of them.”</p>
