Abstract:
Introduction. Vitamin D has several immunomodulatory properties,
which support its anti-inflammatory role in many
disorders. Low levels of vitamin D 25OH in serum are
frequently detected in patients with rheumatic diseases.
Optimal values of 25OH vitamin D can have beneficial
effects in the clinical picture of patients with joint damage.
Purpose. To appreciate the effects of vitamin D supplementation on
the symptoms of osteoarthrosis of the knee (OA) and the
level of pain in these patients.
Material and methods. Observational, case-control study 64 patients divided into 2
groups : group 1 - 38 patients with OA with vitamin D
deficiency and group 2 - 26 with OA with optimal vitamin D
level, (average age of patients 64, 21,4 [71-56] years),
women 81,5%, men 18,5%. Indices used: body mass index
(BMI), ESR, PCR, 25 OH Vitamin D, VAS - visual analog
scale. Statistics: t-Student and Pearson r.
Results. The body mass index was 29,13 (95%CI 32,04-26,02) vs.
26,46 (95%CI 28,93-24,40) kg/m², p<0,05. The level of
vitamin D 25(OH) was 11.34.4 (95%CI 5.84 - 25.21) ng/ml
vs. 32.636.4 (95% CI 58.3 30.29), p<0.05. The percentage of
vitamin D insufficiency <10 ng/mL in all patients was 59.3%.
Male and female patients did not have significant differences
between vitamin D levels (17.015.15 ng/ml) and (17.744.03
ng/ml) (p=0.862). PCR and ESR values were within the
normal range in both groups of patients. In contrast, pain
values after VAS were higher than 5.50.4 (95%CI 8.32-3.08)
vs. 3.80.4 (95% CI 7.84-3.00) in patients with vitamin D
deficiency. A weak positive correlation was found between the
degree of pain after VAS and vitamin D deficiency r=0.302,
p=0.042.
Conclusions. Low levels of vitamin D have been a common cause of more
intensive pain in patients with OA of the knee. Monitoring
and correction of vitamin D levels in the case of OA of the
knee may be recommended in the management of these
patients.
