Association of vitamin D and knee osteoarthritis in younger individuals
Sujit Kumar Tripathy1, Amrit Gantaguru2, Saurav Narayan Nanda2
1Department of Orthopaedics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneswar 751019, Odisha, India. sujitortho@yahoo.co.in.
Background:
The incidence of primary osteoarthritis knee is gradually increasing among young individuals. The increasing prevalence of obesity, sedentary lifestyle, sporting activity, and vitamin D deficiency (VDD) has been hypothesized for this shifting disease trend. This study was designed to look for the association of serum vitamin D among these young arthritic patients.
Aim:
To look for the association of serum vitamin D in younger knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients.
Methods:
In a 2-year observational study, 146 non-obese KOA patients of 35-60 years were evaluated clinically (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, KOOS) and radiologically (Kellegren-Lawrence stage, KL). The serum 25(OH)D level of these patients and 146 normal healthy individuals of same age group were estimated.
Results:
Both the groups were comparable in terms of age and sex. The average serum 25(OH)D level in healthy individuals and KOA patients was 45.83 ng/mL and 34.58 ng/mL, respectively (P < 0.001). Inadequate serum 25(OH)D level (< 30 ng/mL) was found in 46.57% of KOA patients and 24% of normal healthy participants indicating a significant positive association (odds ratio 2.77, 95%CI: 1.67-4.54, P < 0.001). The 25(OH)D level in KL grade I, II, III and IV was 43.40, 30.59, 31.56 and 33.93 ng/mL respectively (no difference, P = 0.47). Similarly, the KOOS score in sufficient, insufficient and deficient groups were 65.31, 60.36 and 65.31, respectively (no difference, P = 0.051).
Conclusion:
The serum 25(OH)D level is significantly low in younger KOA patients. However, the clinical and radiological severities have no association with serum vitamin D level.
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