Efficacy of inclusion of vitamin U and provitamin B5 combination in the complex therapy of primary osteoarthritis against the background of gastrogenic exocrine pancreatic insufficiency

Abstract

Clinical comorbidities at osteoarthritis (OA) complicate its treatment. The number and nature of various comorbid conditions determine the severity of the condition in patients with multimorbidity. However, apart from the common risk factors such as aging and obesity, little is known about the biological plausibility of explaining the co‑occurrence of OA and comorbidities. According to the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology, EULAR, and the National Institute of Health and Nursing, the diagnosis and treatment of specific comorbidities, as well as understanding their nature in OA, are important for choosing the best treatment tactics.
 Objective — to investigate efficacy of inclusion of vitamin U and provitamin B5 combination in the complex therapy of patients with primary OA in comorbidity with gastrogenic exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) for the correction of clinical syndromes.
 Materials and methods. Examinations involved 61 patients with primary OA in comorbidity with gastrointestinal diseases, accompanied by EPI of gastrogenic genesis without exacerbation. The comparison group consisted of 30 practically healthy people. All patients were divided into two comparable groups: group 1 (n=30) received a course of basic therapy drugs, namely: nonsteroidal anti‑inflammatory drugs, chondroprotectors and/or chondrostimulators, antispasmodics, prokinetics, proton pump inhibitors, enzyme agents (pancreatin); group 2 (n=31), in addition to the course of basic therapy, received a course of the vitamin drug combination of vitamin U and provitamin B5, 2 tablets once a day for 6 weeks. The calculation of the WOMAC index (Western Ontario and McMaster University) was used to assess the articular status of patients with primary OA, as well as the effectiveness of the treatment measures. Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) questionnaire was used to assess gastrointestinal symptoms.
 Results. The proposed complex treatment of patients with primary OA with gastrogenic EPI with the additional inclusion of a vitamin preparation combination of vitamin U and provitamin B5 contributed to more significant regression of WOMAC indices compared to that during protocol treatment (the total WOMAC index decreased by 16.03% against 9.10%, respectively) and indicators of the scales of the GSRS questionnaire in comparison with the subgroup that received treatment according to the protocol (in total — by 35.96% vs. 22.19%, p <0.05),
 Conclusions. The study results showed the advisability of using a vitamin medication, a combination of vitamin U and provitamin B5. in the treatment of patients with primary OA with gastrogenic EPI.