New research is shining light on the old argument that a daily vitamin D supplement could help stave off joint pain as a result of osteoarthritis.
The study compared patients who took the supplements with those who took placebos and found no significant differences in the progression of the joint disorder.
For the new study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, patients with knee osteoarthritis took a daily dose of vitamin D or a vitamin-free placebo for two years.
The vitamin D group started out slightly worse off than their comparisons on measures of knee pain and function, but the vitamin didn’t seem to offer clear relief.
Some expert argue that the effects of vitamin D on osteoarthritis may differ from person to person. Genetics or other factors that doctors aren’t yet able to test for may affect the effectiveness of the supplement. However, doctors still suggest that vitamin D may be worth trying for other small health benefits.
Ultimately, more research is needed to verify claims about vitamin D and knee pain relief.