FRI0301 ROLE OF VITAMIN D IN OSTEOARTHRITIS KNEE: A SIX MONTH DOUBLE BLIND, RANDOMIZED, PLACEBO CONTROL

Background: There is a putative role of vitamin D in osteoarthritis (OA) based on animal, epidemiological and human clinical studies. Short term clinical studies suggest beneficial influence of vitamin D on local changes in the bone which probably accounts for diminished pain experienced in knee OA (KOA)1. Inadequate sunlight exposure and lower serum levels of 25(OH)D appears to be associated with an increased risk for progression of OA knee2. Some chronic analgesic users with OA knee were more likely to be in lower categories of 25(OH) D compared to women with asymptomatic OA3 Objectives: A six month, double blind, randomized and placebo controlled trial of vitamin D, in vitamin D insufficient OA knee subjects (serum 25(OH)D levels <50 nmol/L) was conducted. Methods: 150 subjects of primary OA knee, diagnosed by ACR guidelines, were subjected to personal interview to determine their vitamin D intake (by 3 day dietary recall and food frequency table) and the daily sunlight exposure in hours. Serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase an