Vitamin D and neurology

Internal medicine

Endocrinology

Pathology

Micronutrient

Alternative medicine

Osteoarthritis

Vitamin

Fish oil

Metabolic syndrome

Overweight

Fish <Actinopterygii>

Physiology

Fishery

Obesity

Diabetes mellitus

Medicine

Biology

Lara D. Veeken

As current treatment options in OA are very limited, OA patients would benefit greatly from some ability to self-manage their condition. Since diet may potentially affect OA, we reviewed the literature on the relationship between nutrition and OA risk or progression, aiming to provide guidance for clinicians. For overweight/obese patients, weight reduction, ideally incorporating exercise, is paramount. The association between metabolic syndrome, type-2 diabetes and OA risk or progression may partly explain the apparent benefit of dietary-lipid modification resulting from increased consumption of long-chain omega-3 fatty-acids from oily fish/fish oil supplements. A strong association between OA and raised serum cholesterol together with clinical effects in statin users suggests a potential benefit of reduction of cholesterol by dietary means. Patients should ensure that they meet the recommended intakes for micronutrients such as vitamin K, which has a role in bone/cartilage mineralization. Evidence for a role of vitamin D supplementation in OA is unconvincing.

What is the evidence for a role for diet and nutrition in osteoarthritis?