Supplementary vitamin E does not affect the loss of cartilage volume in knee osteoarthritis: a 2 year double blind randomized placebo controlled study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether vitamin E affects change in cartilage volume in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA).


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 micro m3 placebo, p = 0.51; lateral 186 +/- 258 vs 251 +/- 216 micro m3, 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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Wluka
Anita E
AE
Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University Medical School, Prahran, Victoria, Australia.
Stuckey
Stephen
S
Brand
Caroline
C
Cicuttini
Flavia M
FM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010919:Placebos; D011859:Radiography; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000975:Antioxidants; D010919:Placebos; D014810:Vitamin E