Vitamin D Supplementation in Knee Osteoarthritis (VitD-OA)

The Influence of Vitamin D Supplementation With and Without Glucosamine Sulfate and Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Patients With Osteoarthritis Symptoms

Muscular (i.e., quadriceps) weakness is a major risk factor for predisposing the knee to osteoarthritis, impairing physical function, and increasing patient-reported pain. Muscular weakness is a consequence of and could contribute to the development of knee osteoarthritis. Minimizing muscular weakness has been fount to improve activities of daily living in patients with osteoarthritis symptoms. Although vitamin D associates with muscular strength in young and old populations, it is unknown if vitamin D supplementation improves muscular strength in subjects with osteoarthritis or osteoarthritis symptoms. It is also unknown if supplemental vitamin D alters circulating cytokine concentrations in subjects with knee osteoarthritis. Furthermore, it is probable that a more comprehensive supplement is necessary to improve muscular strength. Such as glucosamine sulfate and omega-3 fatty acids (i.e., eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids) which could be influential on knee pain and inflammation as well as muscular strength. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to identify the influence of vitamin D supplementation with and without glucosamine sulfate and omega-3 fatty acids on circulating cytokine concentrations and muscular strength in subjects with knee osteoarthritis symptoms. This study is intended to establish preliminary data identifying the influence of vitamin D supplementation on circulating cytokines and muscular strength in subjects with osteoarthritis at no more than minimal risk exposure to subjects.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Osteoarthritis, Knee; Vitamin D Supplementation
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Placebo; Dietary supplement: Vitamin D (cholecalciferol); Dietary supplement: Glucosamine sulfate and omega-3 fatty acids

Detailed Description

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint condition and a leading contributor to the global burden of disease. Estimates indicate that approximately 14 million people in the United States have symptomatic knee OA, and nearly half of those individuals are between 45 and 65 years of age. Over the years, data have extended our knowledge regarding the early premise of knee OA being the sole consequence of "wear and tear" processes of articular cartilage and it is now recognized that knee OA arises, in part, as a consequence of cytokine-mediated cellular and signaling events.

Cytokines are pleiotropic proteins instrumental to the immune response, host defenses, and intra- and inter-cellular signaling. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1β are pro-inflammatory cytokines that promote the catabolic and destructive events of knee OA in animal and human studies. These findings are corroborated by data illustrating chondrocytes as a site for pro-inflammatory cytokine production in knee OA, and that disease severity and progression associate with increasing TNF-α, IL-1β, and other cytokine concentrations in the circulation and transcriptional expression in peripheral blood leukocytes. Fortunately, IL-10 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine expressed in chondrocytes and possesses chondroprotective properties by inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokine production. While some factors are unavoidable or unpreventable, such as aging, trauma, and genetic predisposition, disrupting the cytokine network could alter OA development and progression.

Low circulating vitamin D concentrations are reported in elderly with and without knee osteoarthritis symptoms. Serum 25(OH)D concentrations associate with muscular strength or performance in elderly. Vitamin D supplementation increases serum 25(OH)D concentrations and improves muscular strength in elderly. Based on these observations, vitamin D is essential for muscle function in elderly, however, it is unknown if supplemental vitamin D influences muscular strength in subjects with knee OA. Furthermore, it is probable that a more comprehensive supplement is necessary to improve muscular strength.

The aim of this study is to identify the influence of supplemental vitamin D on circulating cytokines and muscular strength in subjects with knee OA. This study consists of a double-blind, placebo-controlled experimental design. Subjects will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: (#1) vitamin D (cholecalciferol, 4000 IU) with glucosamine sulfate (1000 mg) and omega-3 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic (EPA, 580 mg) and docosahexaenoic (DHA, 470 mg) acids), (#2) vitamin D (cholecalciferol, 4000 IU) with matching glucosamine sulfate and omega-3 fatty acid placebo supplements, or (#3) matching vitamin D, glucosamine sulfate and omega-3 fatty acid placebo supplements. Supplements will be taken daily for 84 days (12 weeks). Groups will be permutated in random blocks of six. Serum 25(OH)D, serum cytokines and muscular-based outcomes will be determined prior to, during, and following supplementation.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 73
• Phase: Not Applicable

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 60 years (ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Unilateral knee pain, weakness, and impaired physical activity
• Older than 18 years of age but younger than 60 years of age
• Reportedly physically active (minimum of 30 minutes of continuous exercise or physical exertion 3 times per week during the previous year)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Bilateral symptoms of hip, knee or ankle osteoarthritis
• Recent (within 2 years) surgery on the symptomatic or non-symptomatic limb
• History of metabolic bone disease
• History of any skeletal muscle pathologies
• History of cardiac or peripheral cardiovascular system abnormalities
• History of clotting disorders
• History of coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, or stroke
• History of cancer
• Use of warfarin or other anti-coagulants prior to study enrollment
• Use of cholesterol lowering medication
• History of high cholesterol or triglycerides
• History of high blood pressure
• Diagnosed with diabetes mellitus
• Impaired liver function
• Impaired kidney function
• Pregnant
• Daily dietary supplement or vitamin use during the previous year
• Use of corticosteroid medication
• Use of orlistat, phenobarbital, phenytoin, or thiazide
• Morbidly obese (body mass index > 40 kg/m2)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: TREATMENT
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: PARALLEL
• Masking: QUADRUPLE

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
PLACEBO_COMPARATOR: Placebo; Matching vitamin D, glucosamine sulfate and omega-3 fatty acid placebo supplements. Supplements taken daily for 84 days (12 weeks).	Dietary supplement: Placebo; Placebo supplement for vitamin D (cholecalciferol), glucosamine sulfate, and omega-3 fatty acids. Supplement was taken orally every day for 84-days.
EXPERIMENTAL: Vitamin D; Vitamin D (cholecalciferol, 4000 IU) with matching glucosamine sulfate and omega-3 fatty acid placebo supplements. Supplements taken daily for 84 days (12 weeks).	Dietary supplement: Vitamin D (cholecalciferol); Vitamin D (cholecalciferol). Supplement was taken orally every day for 84-days.
EXPERIMENTAL: Vitamin D, glucosamine sulfate, and omega-3 fatty acids; Vitamin D (cholecalciferol, 4000 IU) with glucosamine sulfate (1000 mg) and omega-3 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic (EPA, 580 mg) and docosahexaenoic (DHA, 470 mg) acids). Supplements taken daily for 84 days (12 weeks).	Dietary supplement: Vitamin D (cholecalciferol); Vitamin D (cholecalciferol). Supplement was taken orally every day for 84-days.; Dietary supplement: Glucosamine sulfate and omega-3 fatty acids; Glucosamine sulfate and omega-3 fatty acids supplement was taken orally every day for 84-days.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Circulating (serum) IL-10 concentration	The influence of supplemental vitamin D on serum IL-10 concentration (pg/mL) in subjects with knee osteoarthritis.	Day 84
Single-leg peak isokinetic torque	The influence of supplemental vitamin D on single-leg peak isokinetic torque (Nm at 60 degrees per second) in subjects with knee osteoarthritis.	Day 84

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Patient reported pain and physical dysfunction	Patient reported pain and physical dysfunction (using the subsection questions in the WOMAC survey) will be reported by each subject.	Day 28 and Day 84

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Circulating (serum) cytokines (TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, IL-13, and IL-1beta)	Supplemental vitamin D influences serum cytokines (pg/mL) in subjects with knee OA	Day 84
Single leg peak isometric force	Supplemental vitamin D influences single leg peak isometric force (N) in subjects with knee osteoarthritis.	Day 84
Circulating (serum) soluble cytokine receptors	Supplemental vitamin D influences serum soluble cytokine receptors (sIL-1r, sIL-1r2, sIL-4r, sIL-6r, sTNFr1, and sTNFr2: pg/mL)	Day 84
Single leg peak power output	Supplemental vitamin D influences single leg peak output (Nm) in subjects with knee osteoarthritis.	Day 84

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Intermountain Health Care, Inc.
• Collaborators: USANA Health Sciences
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Tyler Barker, PhD, Intermountain Health Care, Inc.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (ACTUAL): July 28, 2011
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): January 8, 2013
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): January 8, 2013

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 4, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 8, 2019
• First Posted (ACTUAL): October 10, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ACTUAL): October 10, 2019
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 8, 2019
• Last Verified: October 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Rheumatic Diseases; Arthritis; Osteoarthritis; Osteoarthritis, Knee; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Micronutrients; Vitamins; Bone Density Conservation Agents; Calcium-Regulating Hormones and Agents; Vitamin D; Cholecalciferol
• Other Study ID Numbers: 1023358

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No