What Vitamin D Does For Arthritic Knees: Nada

Many people have taken vitamin D supplements hoping that they will ease the pain of arthritic knees, or perhaps slow the progression of arthritis. Now, from researchers at the University of Tasmania, comes this advice: save your money. HealthDay reports that researchers randomly assigned 400 patients with knee osteoarthritis to monthly treatment with either 50,000 International Units of vitamin D a month or a placebo. Ready? The envelope please…..After two years, the researchers found no difference between the groups in reduced pain, loss of cartilage or improvement in bone marrow in the thigh or shin bone.  But wait, it’s not over. A group that represents the vitamin supplement industry argues that the study did find slight improvements in some who were given vitamin D supplementation.  “Even though the numbers are not statistically significant, these are positive trends that should encourage further research,” said Andrea Wong, vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs at the Council for Responsible Nutrition. OK, maybe.