Accelerated Epigenetic Aging Mediates the Association between Vitamin D Levels and Knee Pain in Community-Dwelling Individuals.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional observational study
PubMed 35450986 · doi:10.1007/s12603-022-1758-z
What was done
Researchers conducted a cross-sectional mediation analysis using data from 189 community-dwelling individuals aged 45 to 65+ years with and without knee pain from the UPLOAD-2 (Understanding Pain and Limitations in OsteoArthritic Disease-2) study. They assessed serum vitamin D levels, self-reported pain intensity and pain-related interference/disability, and accelerated epigenetic aging (AgeAccelGrim) derived from blood DNA methylation.
What was found
Lower vitamin D levels were associated with higher epigenetic age acceleration (AgeAccelGrim) and greater pain and disability. In mediation analyses, AgeAccelGrim mediated the relationship between vitamin D status and self-reported pain (indirect effect ab = -0.0799, 95% CI [-0.1492, -0.0237]) as well as disability outcomes (indirect effect ab = -0.0669, 95% CI [-0.1365, -0.0149]).
Why it matters
This study links nutritional status to pain outcomes via epigenetic aging biomarkers, suggesting a biological aging mechanism through which vitamin D deficiency might correlate with joint pain and disability.
Limits
The cross-sectional design cannot establish causality or temporal direction between vitamin D levels, epigenetic aging, and pain. The sample size is modest (n = 189), and the abstract does not report baseline vitamin D thresholds, specific confounder adjustments, or longitudinal follow-up.
Cited by
- supports Vitamin D deficiency is associated with accelerated epigenetic aging.