What is the evidence for a role for diet and nutrition in osteoarthritis?

Thomas S, Browne H, Mobasheri A, Rayman MP · Rheumatology (Oxford)

The standing clinical overview of this whole section, and its ordering is instructive: weight reduction with exercise first and by a distance; then dietary lipid modification, with long-chain omega-3s from oily fish or supplements, justified partly through the metabolic-syndrome link to OA; then adequate micronutrient intake, singling out vitamin K for its role in bone and cartilage mineralization. It judges the evidence for vitamin D supplementation in OA unconvincing, and notes a strong association between OA and raised serum cholesterol.

Population

The diet-and-osteoarthritis literature, reviewed for clinicians

Intervention

Dietary modification across weight, lipids, omega-3s and micronutrients

Comparator

Not applicable

Limitations

A narrative clinical review rather than a systematic one, with no pooling or formal quality appraisal.