Antioxidants & Knee Osteoarthritis

Antioxidants, such as vitamin C, may lower the risk of knee osteoarthritis, according to a recent study published in Arthritis Research & Therapy.*

The Australian study measured the cartilage volume, bone area, cartilage defects and bone marrow lesions of 293 healthy adults, taking into account their dietary intake. After ten years, these adults were retested using MRIs.

Higher vitamin C diets were positively linked to the reduced risk of bone marrow lesions and a reduction of the tibial plateau bone area. Vitamin E was also associated with the reduction of tibial plateau bone area after adjusting for vitamin C intake.
Lutein and zeaxanthin intake was associated with the decreased risk of cartilage defects.

The researchers suggest that vitamins C & E, lutein & zeaxanthin may prove effective in lowering the risk of osteoarthritis.

Vitamins C & E, and carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin can be found in many Viteyes® supplements. Visit www.viteyes.com for more information.

* Wang, Y., Hodge, A.M., Wluka, A.E., English, D.R., Giles, G.G., O’Sullivan, R., Forbes, A., and Cicuttini, F.M. “Effect of antioxidants on knee cartilage and bone in healthy, middle-aged subjects: a cross-sectional study.” Arthritis Research & Therapy. 9:R66, July 2007.