Objective: To evaluate the association between vitamin supplements and the incidence and progression of radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA). Study Design: Prospective cohort. Methods: Men and women aged 40 years and older (N = 2239) participating in the community-based Clearwater Osteoarthritis Study (1988-current) with biennial, sequential radiographs. The Lawrence Kellgren ordinal scale was used to determine evidence of the study outcome, radiographic knee OA, and progression of radiographic knee OA. The study exposure was baseline history of self-reported vitamin supplement usage. Results: Individuals without baseline knee OA who self-reported vitamin supplement usage were 12 less likely to develop knee OA than were those individuals who self-reported no vitamin supplement usage (RR = 0.88; 95 C.I. 0.86-0.89). Those with baseline knee OA who self-reported vitamin supplement usage were 7 less likely to experience knee OA progression than were those individuals who self-reported no vitamin supplement usage (RR = 0.93; 95 C.I. 0.87-0.99 ). Conclusion: After consideration of BMI, gender, age, history of knee trauma, exercise and vitamin supplement usage prior to study baseline, these findings suggest that vitamin supplement usage may play a protective role in knee OA. Vitamin supplements may be a cost-effective strategy to reduce the incidence and/or slow the progression of knee OA. As many approved OA drugs are accompanied by adverse side effects, the role of vitamin supplements in the development and progression of knee OA warrants further investigation.
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