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Supplementary Vitamin E Does Not Affect the Loss of Cartilage Volume in Knee Osteoarthritis: A 2 Year Double Blind Randomized Placebo Controlled Study
ANITA E. WLUKA, STEPHEN STUCKEY, CAROLINE BRAND, and FLAVIA M. CICUTTINI
ABSTRACT.
Methods. In a double blind, placebo controlled trial, 136 patients with knee OA (American College of Rheumatology clinical and radiographic criteria) were randomized to receive vitamin E (500 IU) or placebo for 2 years. Tibial cartilage volume was measured by magnetic resonance imaging at the beginning and end of the study. Results. Baseline characteristics were similar in the 2 groups (67 vitamin E, 69 placebo); there were more women in the vitamin E group, 42 (63%) vs 33 (48%) in the placebo group. One hundred seventeen subjects (59 vitamin E, 58 placebo) completed the study. Loss of medial and lateral tibial cartilage was similar in subjects treated with vitamin E and placebo (mean ± SD: medial 157 ± 209 vs 187 ± 220 µm3 placebo, p = 0.51; lateral 186 ± 258 vs 251 ± 216 µm3, p = 0.19). There were no significant differences between the vitamin E and placebo treated groups in improvement of symptoms from baseline. Dietary levels of antioxidants (vitamin C, beta carotene, retinol equivalents) had no effect on cartilage volume loss. Conclusion. Vitamin E does not appear to have a beneficial effect in the management of knee OA: it does not affect cartilage volume loss or symptoms. (J Rheumatol 2002;29:2585-91) Key Indexing Terms:
OSTEOARTHRITIS
From the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University Medical School; the MRI Unit, Radiology Department, Alfred Hospital; and the Rheumatology Unit, Alfred Hospital, Prahran, Victoria, Australia. Supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council. Dr. Wluka is the recipient of a National Health and Medical Research Council Scholarship and additional funds from the Alfred Research Trusts. A.E. Wluka, FRACP, Rheumatologist, PhD Scholar, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University Medical School; S. Stuckey, FRANZCR, Head, MRI Unit, Alfred Hospital; C. Brand, FRACP, Rheumatologist; F.M. Cicuttini, FRACP, PhD, Rheumatologist, Head, Chronic Diseases Unit, Alfred Hospital. Address reprint requests to Dr. F. Cicuttini, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Alfred Hospital, Prahran, Victoria 3181, Australia. E-mail flavia.cicuttini@med.monash.edu.au Submitted February 4, 2002; revision accepted June 24, 2002. |