The Vitamin D Effect on Osteoarthritis (VIDEO) Study

AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE INVOLVED IN MEDICAL RESEARCH

Why are we doing it?

Osteoarthritis (OA), characterized by gradual loss of cartilage, is the most common joint disorder in the world. It is one of the most frequent causes of pain, loss of function and disability in adults. OA of the knee is particularly common and currently there is no therapy that can slow the progression of OA.

Evidence suggests that vitamin D deficiency plays an important role in the development of knee OA, with low levels of vitamin D being associated with faster loss of cartilage from the knee joint. However, we do not know if correcting vitamin D deficiency using vitamin D supplements will slow this loss of cartilage and thus slow the worsening of knee osteoarthritis.  VIDEO is a randomised controlled trial which will compare osteoarthritic changes in the knee in patients receiving vitamin D supplementation with those receiving a placebo.  

Is this for you?

You need to have had symptoms of knee OA for at least 6 months and be aged between 50 and 79 years. 

What will Participation in the study involve?

1. Attending a screening visit where your suitability for the study will be assessed. We will take blood to test vitamin D levels, perform a knee X-ray and ask a few simple questions about your health.
   
2. If you have mild to moderate vitamin D deficiency, we would like you to continue in the study.
   
3. Once you are included in the study, you will attend assessments at baseline, and then at 1 year and 2 years, with the option of three months and six months (maximum 6 visits including the screening visit). The study will go for two years as the effects of vitamin D on cartilage take this long to be measured adequately. The baseline and year 2 visits utilise a comprehensive protocol which takes about approximately 2.5 hours and will involve a MRI scan of the knee. Other visits will take about half an hour. Measures will be done at the Epworth Hospital and Caulfield Hospital in Melbourne.
   
4. Take either a vitamin D supplement (50,000 IU each tablet) or a placebo tablet each month. Placebo tablets do not contain any active ingredient. As this is a blinded trial you will be unaware of which type of tablets you have received until we have completed the study.

Please click here to download our Information Sheet

The Research Team

Associate Professor Changhai Ding, Menzies Research Institute, Tasmania; Monash University, Victoria

Professor Flavia Cicuttini, Monash University, Victoria

Dr Anita Wluka, Monash University, Victoria

Collaborators

Professor Graeme Jones, Menzies Research Institute, Tasmania

Dr Tania Winzenberg, Menzies Research Institute, Tasmania

Research Officers

Ms Judy Hankin, Monash University, Victoria

Ms Alice Noone, Monash University, Victoria

Ms Kay Nguo, Menzies Research Institute, Tasmania