Information for Medical Professionals
Low vitamin D levels could boost osteoarthritis risk
Low levels of vitamin D in the blood serum of elderly people could increase the risk of them developing osteoarthritis of the hip.
According to new international research published in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism, men whose recorded levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin (OH)D were between 15.1 and 30 ng per millilitre had double the chance of displaying symptoms of osteoarthritis of the hip following radiographic examination.
Meanwhile, higher levels of vitamin D in the blood was associated with a lower prevalence of hip osteoarthritis.
"The association of low 25(OH)D levels with prevalent radiographic hip [osteoarthritis] underscores the potentially important role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis of [osteoarthritis]," the researchers said.
Recent changes to surgical guidelines in Australia suggested administering the anti-coagulent low molecular weight heparin and vitamin D supplements following total hip and knee replacement surgery.
The new guidelines cited vitamin D's ability to boost bone mineral density as the reason for it being offered to patients.
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