Vitamin D for arthritic knees

Recent research reports a link between low serum levels of vitamin D and decreased knee function in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Researchers from the Boston University, USA, presented their findings from 221 subjects. All had knee arthritis and reported knee pain on most days in the month before they joined the study. The researchers measured blood levels of vitamin D at the start and again after 15 and 30 months. They compared change in vitamin D levels with changes in knee pain, physical function and muscle strength during the 30-month study period. The researchers found a relationship between serum levels of vitamin D and knee function. Low levels were associated with higher levels of pain and disability and to a lesser extent, muscle weakness. The above study is not a study of vitamin D as a treatment for osteoarthritis, but people need a higher serum level of vitamin D than originally thought. Hence, vitamin D intake should be increased.