Vitamin D 3 Supplementation Prior to Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized controlled trial
PubMed 35988825 · doi:10.1016/j.arth.2022.08.020
What was done
A randomized controlled trial evaluated whether a single preoperative dose of vitamin D3 improves functional outcomes and reduces complications after primary total knee arthroplasty. On the morning of surgery, 107 patients were randomized to receive either 50,000 international units of vitamin D3 (57 patients) or placebo (50 patients). The Knee Society Score (KSS) functional component and the Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT) were measured preoperatively and at 3 and 6 weeks postoperatively. Postoperative complications were tracked for 90 days.
What was found
There were no statistically significant differences between the vitamin D3 and placebo groups: - KSS improvement from baseline at 3 weeks: +4.8 points with vitamin D3 vs +3.0 points with placebo (P = .6). - KSS improvement from baseline at 6 weeks: +14.5 points with vitamin D3 vs +12.4 points with placebo (P = .5). - TUGT change from baseline at 3 weeks: +1.2 seconds with vitamin D3 vs +0.6 seconds with placebo (P = .6). - TUGT change from baseline at 6 weeks: -0.3 seconds with vitamin D3 vs -0.9 seconds with placebo (P = .6). - 90-day complications: 5 in the vitamin D3 group vs 4 in the placebo group (P = 1.0).
Why it matters
Administering a single high dose of vitamin D3 on the morning of total knee arthroplasty does not appear to confer short-term functional benefits or reduce early complications.
Limits
The sample size was modest (107 patients) and follow-up was limited to 6 weeks for functional outcomes and 90 days for complications. Baseline serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D status and whether participants had baseline vitamin D deficiency were not reported in the abstract.
Cited by
- contradicts Taking 50,000 IUs of vitamin D3 with magnesium and K2 for 3 days before any surgical procedure greatly improves outcomes.