Relationship between soy milk intake and radiographic knee joint space narrowing and osteophytes

Li H, Zeng C, Wei J, Yang T, Gao SG, Li YS, Luo W, Xiao WF, Xiong YL, Lei GH · Rheumatology International

Splits the two radiographic features rather than lumping them. Osteophytes were less prevalent with soy milk intake in a dose-response pattern (at least daily: OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.26-0.92; less than daily: OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.67-0.94; p for trend 0.001) after adjustment for energy, activity, smoking, alcohol, education, diabetes, hypertension and other dairy intake. Joint space narrowing showed no association in either model.

Population

5,764 adults in Hunan, China, with knee radiographs scored by the OARSI atlas

Intervention

Soy milk intake — never, less than once a day, or at least once a day

Comparator

Never

Limitations

Cross-sectional, so this is prevalence at one moment rather than progression. Osteophyte formation and cartilage loss are different processes, and the null on joint space narrowing is the one that speaks to cartilage. Single region of China; soy milk intake there travels with a broader dietary pattern.