Role of vitamin A and E in spondylosis

A biomedical study was undertaken at the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Dhaka to observe the effect of the antioxidative roles of vitamins A and E on the degenerative process occurring in spondylosis in human. A single and a double blind study were done. Thirty two patients suffering from spondylosis were selected for the study on the basis of certain criteria. The serum vitamin E level in most of the patients were lower (5.8 +/- 2.7 umol/L) than normal (11-41 umol/L). Vitamin E administration at a dose of 100 mg daily for three weeks resulted in a significant increase in serum vitamin E level accompanied by complete relief of pain. The serum vitamin A level of the patients were already within the normal (0.53-2 umol/L) range and vitamin A administration was not effective in relieving the pain. The results therefore strongly indicate that vitamin E is effective in curing spondylosis and most probably due to its antioxidant activity.