Additive effects of active vitamin D3 or vitamin E administration on therapeutic lower-limb home exercise for knee osteoarthritis: A pilot prospective randomized controlled trial.
Hiroaki Kanazawa, Hisashi Kurosawa, Masashi Nagao et al.
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In 30 seconds
This pilot prospective randomized controlled trial assessed whether active vitamin D3 or vitamin E added benefit to home exercise in postmenopausal women with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. Eighty-eight women were assigned to exercise alone, exercise plus active vitamin D3, or exercise plus vitamin E; 80 completed follow-up after 24 weeks. All groups improved in knee osteoarthritis measure scores, quadriceps strength, and 10-m walk performance. However, there were no significant between-group differences in these outcomes, indicating no demonstrated additive benefit from either supplement for symptoms, strength, or physical performance.
Key findings
- All three groups improved in JKOM score, quadriceps muscle strength, and 10-m walk test performance.
- No significant between-group differences were found in JKOM, health survey scores, muscle strength, or physical performance.
- Grip strength improved significantly only in the active vitamin D3 group.
- Inflammatory markers decreased significantly in the vitamin E group, but between-group differences were not observed.
Why it matters
The findings support home exercise as a potentially useful component of care for women with knee osteoarthritis, while not demonstrating that active vitamin D3 or vitamin E adds meaningful benefit to symptoms or physical performance over 24 weeks. The nutrient-specific findings may warrant further study but do not establish a clinical advantage.
What to keep in mind
This was a pilot trial, and 8 of the 88 randomized participants did not complete follow-up. The findings apply to postmenopausal women with knee osteoarthritis and a 24-week intervention.