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Serum Levels of Vitamin D, Sunlight Exposure, and Knee Cartilage Loss in Older Adults

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 00:36 authored by Chang-Hai DingChang-Hai Ding, Cicuttini, F, Parameswaran, V, John BurgessJohn Burgess, Quinn, SJ, Graeme JonesGraeme Jones
Objective. To determine the associations between serum levels of vitamin D, sunlight exposure, and knee cartilage loss cross-sectionally and longitudinally in older adults. Methods. A total of 880 randomly selected subjects (mean age 61 years [range 51-79 years], 50% women) were studied at baseline, and 353 of these subjects were studied 2.9 years later. Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) were assessed by radioimmunoassay, and sunlight exposure was assessed by questionnaire. T1-weighted fat-suppressed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the right knee was performed to determine knee cartilage volume and defects. Knee radiographic osteoarthritis (OA) and knee pain were also assessed. Results. The mean 25(OH)D serum level was 52.8 nmoles/liter at baseline (range 13-119 nmoles/liter). Winter sunlight exposure and serum 25(OH)D level were both positively associated with medial and lateral tibial cartilage volume, and a serum 25(OH)D level <50 nmoles/liter was associated with increased medial tibiofemoral joint space narrowing (all P < 0.05). Longitudinally,baseline serum 25(OH)D level predicted change in both medial and lateral tibial cartilage volume ( 0.04% per annum per nmole/liter for both; P < 0.05), and change in serum 25(OH)D level was positively associated with change in medial tibial cartilage volume. These associations were consistent in subjects with radiographic OA and knee pain and/or in women, but not in men or in subjects without radiographic OA or knee pain. Conclusion. Sunlight exposure and serum 25(OH)D levels are both associated with decreased knee cartilage loss (assessed by radiograph or MRI). This is best observed using the whole range of 25(OH)D levels rather than predefined cut points and implies that achieving vitamin D sufficiency may prevent and/or retard cartilage loss in knee OA.

History

Publication title

Arthritis and Rheumatism

Volume

60

Issue

5

Pagination

1381-1389

ISSN

0004-3591

Department/School

Menzies Institute for Medical Research

Publisher

Wiley-Liss

Place of publication

Div John Wiley & Sons Inc, 605 Third Ave, New York, USA, Ny, 10158-0012

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Clinical health not elsewhere classified

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    University Of Tasmania

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