Abstract
Older adults are recommended vitamin D to prevent fractures. Though this population is also at risk of osteoarthritis (OA), the effect of vitamin D on OA is unclear and may differ by disease state. The relationship between vitamin D and OA during OA initiation and progression were considered in this narrative review of in vivo and in vitro studies. Regarding OA initiation in humans, the small number of published observational studies suggest a lack of association between induction of OA and vitamin D status. Most randomized controlled trials were performed in White OA patients with relatively high vitamin D status (>50 nmol/L). These studies found no benefit of vitamin D supplementation on OA progression. However, subset analyses and one randomized controlled pilot trial indicated that vitamin D supplementation may alleviate joint pain in OA patients with low vitamin D status (<50 nmol/L). As the etiology of OA is recently being more fully uncovered, better animal and cell models are needed. According to currently available clinical results, evidence is lacking to set a vitamin D level to prevent OA, and increasing vitamin D status above 50 nmol/L does not seem to benefit OA patients.
Highlights
Vitamin D is known to increase bone mass or prevent bone loss
Results of vitamin D supplementation RCTs in OA patients are relatively consistent in revealing no effect of such supplementation on cartilage volume
The effect of vitamin D may differ according to disease state, little is understood regarding its effect on the initiation and progression of OA
Summary
Older adults are recommended to consume adequate vitamin D to prevent osteoporosis and fracture [1]. The use of high-dose vitamin D supplements (≥1000 International Units (IU)/d) is increasing in the United States (US) with over 30% of adults aged ≥60 years consuming ≥1000 IU/d through supplementation [3]. Understanding the effect of vitamin D on OA is critical, especially in older adults who are recommended to increase vitamin D intake to prevent osteoporosis and fractures. This narrative review focuses on the potential relationship between vitamin D and OA by considering the available clinical data in addition to cellular and animal data
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