Vitamin D in The Prevention and Treatment of Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a widespread form of arthritis that is estimated to affect one in eight adults and is a leading cause of chronic joint pain. The condition is characterized by a progressive breakdown of joint cartilage, which performs the role of a buffer in joints. The condition worsens with age as the cartilage begins to degenerate, causing the joints to become swollen, stiff, and painful. Although it can affect any joint in the body, it most commonly affects the knees, hips, hands, and spine.

It is well-known that OA is made worse by the wear and tear of joints, especially the knee joints, which bear the load of the body. Therefore obesity and joint loading caused by weight changes that come with a highfat diet are among the established osteoarthritis causes. Dietary fat is also shown to be associated with inflammatory effects in the cartilage and related OA progression. One study involving 2,000 patients having osteoarthritis of the knee showed a significant positive relationship between total fat and saturated fatty acids (SFA) with loss of joint space width (JSW).

In the study, which lasted for four years, the participants had to fill diet questionnaires at the start of the study and subsequently at 12-month intervals. The questionnaire showed the frequency at which they ate certain foods and the type of fat contained in each during the year before. X-rays of the knee joint were used to study the progression of the disease in terms of the knee joint space. Loss of the cartilage tissue, which is a characteristic feature of osteoarthritis, would make the space narrower.

After several factors that cause a change in the structure of the knee such as weight, age, physical activity, smoking, knee injury, or surgery were taken into consideration, it was found that participants in the study who had a diet high in saturated fat (found in butter, red meat, lard, cheese, and processed foods) have the most loss of cartilage and hence reduced joint space width (JSW).

It is thought that osteoarthritis, in part, inflammatory disease and not just a condition where cartilage tissue wears off because of overuse or age. The condition Synovitis, which is an inflammation of the lining inside the joint capsule, is also known to contribute to loss of cartilage. Since saturated fats are known to cause inflammation, they could be a cause for the progression of the disease. The results of the study also indicate that the healthy types of fat such as the unsaturated fats found in salmon, avocados, flax seeds, and walnuts also have an anti-inflammatory effect that could prevent damage and help in Osteoarthritis treatment.

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