Vitamin D Impacts on Knee Osteoarthritis
Summary
Vitamin D influences bone and cartilage metabolism through its role in calcium homeostasis and modulation of inflammation. In knee osteoarthritis, vitamin D deficiency has been associated with accelerated cartilage degradation, muscle weakness and heightened pain perception. Conversely, adequate vitamin D status is thought to support chondrocyte function and maintain subchondral bone integrity. Despite clear biological mechanisms, clinical trials have yielded mixed outcomes regarding the ability of supplementation to slow structural progression or alleviate symptoms. Recent investigations have examined serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in relation to radiographic changes, synovial inflammation and patient-reported outcomes, revealing a nuanced interplay between vitamin D levels, body composition and disease severity. Emerging interest in personalised dosing reflects the imperative to define optimal thresholds for joint preservation and symptomatic relief in knee osteoarthritis management.
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Vitamin D Impacts on Knee Osteoarthritis publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in vitamin d impacts on knee osteoarthritis across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
25-hydroxyvitamin D: The primary circulating form of vitamin D used to assess status.
Chondrocyte: A cell responsible for cartilage production and maintenance.
Synovial tissue volume: The amount of inflamed synovium within a joint measured by MRI.
Bone marrow lesion: An area of altered subchondral bone signal on MRI associated with pain and progression.
Cholecalciferol: Vitamin D₃, a form commonly used in dietary supplements.
References
- Association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and osteoarthritis: A national population-based analysis of NHANES 2001–2018. Frontiers in Nutrition (2023).
- Long-term effects of vitamin D supplementation and maintaining sufficient vitamin D on knee osteoarthritis over 5 years. Arthritis Research & Therapy (2023).
- Effect of Vitamin D supplementation on synovial tissue volume and subchondral bone marrow lesion volume in symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders (2019).
- Role of Vitamin D in Osteoarthritis: Molecular, Cellular, and Clinical Perspectives. International Journal of Endocrinology (2015).
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