Vitamin D and Its Effects on Articular Cartilage and Osteoarthritis

Abstract

Background:Osteoarthritis (OA) currently affects 10% of the American population. There has been a recent push to determine exactly what causes OA and how it can be treated most effectively. Serum vitamin D levels have been associated with OA and may have an effect on articular cartilage remodeling.Purpose:To critically review the published research on the effect of vitamin D on articular cartilage and the development of OA as well as on the mechanism behind cartilage regeneration and degeneration.Study Design:Review.Methods:A systematic search of PubMed and the Web of Science was performed for relevant studies published in the English language through April 30, 2016, using the terms vitamin D, articular cartilage, and osteoarthritis.Results:On a molecular level, 1α,25(OH)2D3, the activated form of vitamin D, plays a role in articular cartilage degeneration. Vitamin D binds to vitamin D receptors, triggering a signaling cascade that leads to chondrocyte hypertrophy. In clinical trials, vitamin D deficiency poses a risk factor for OA, and those with decreased cartilage thickness are more likely to be vitamin D–insufficient.Conclusion:The role of vitamin D supplementation in the treatment or prevention of OA remains uncertain. More research is needed to reconcile these conflicting findings.

Vitamin D Impact on Human Health and Its Relation With Several Diseases

“…Osteoarthritis is a disease of the synovial membrane, subchondral bone and cartilage, and the low intake and low levels of vitamin D in the blood can exacerbate osteoarthritis and cause the disease to develop [50]. In a study, the results showed that the risk of osteoarthritis had increased three times in participants in the lower and middle groups of vitamin D levels in the blood and it was concluded that low levels of vitamin D in the blood increase the risk of bone arthritis [51,52].…”

Effect of vitamin D supplementation on pain and physical function in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA): an OA Trial Bank protocol for a systematic review and individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis

“…Emerging observational data suggest that vitamin D insufficiency is associated with the onset and progression of knee OA. 7 The association between low serum vitamin D levels and knee OA symptoms may be explained by a direct effect of vitamin D on chondrocytes in osteoarthritic cartilage, 8 as well as indirect effects on subchondral bone, synovium and periarticular muscle. 9 For example, vitamin D deficiency could impair the ability of bone to respond optimally to pathological bone marrow lesions (BMLs) and altered bone mineral density, therefore predisposing the knees to disease progression.…”

Inhibition of Early Response Genes Prevents Changes in Global Joint Metabolomic Profiles in Mouse Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis

“…These observations are likely related to the changes in subchondral bone seen in both mouse and human OA(27). Increased vitamin D signaling has previously been reported in arthritic joints in response to joint damage to induce new bone formation, with this increased bone remodeling associated with joint pain(28, 29). In this noninvasive injury model, we observe dramatic bone remodeling as early as 3 days postinjury, resulting in a 25-35% loss of subchondral bone volume peaking at 7-10 days post-injury(30).…”