Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that's caused by the breakdown of cartilage in the joints. The end result is total loss of cartilage. There are over 100 different types of arthritic conditions and this one is the most common as it affects over 20,000,000 people in the U.S. alone. If you have this condition that has no known cause, it's referred to as "Primary Osteoarthritis". Aging is a major cause of the Primary variety. There's also “Secondary Arthritis", caused by another disease or condition. These can include obesity, gout, diabetes, and constant trauma to the joint or even surgery on a joint. By far, obesity is the most powerful risk factor next to aging. Fortunately, I'm not obese.

As a person who suffers from osteoarthritis of the fingers, I was intrigued by a reference to a potential relationship between it and vitamin K. My fingers began to swell at the fingertip joints within the last six years, and I now find it very difficult to make a fist at night due to extreme stiffness of the joints. I also turned 60 last month and feel as if I'm falling apart! So, what role does Vitamin K play in osteoarthritis? It could be a very important role, based on recent research and findings. Arthritis researchers at Boston University have found a link between low blood levels of Vitamin K intake and increased cases of hand and knee osteoarthritis.

The lead author, Tuhina Neogi, said, "We are not yet sure if vitamin K is in fact the cause of osteoarthritis. But what we did see is that the lower the levels of vitamin K in the blood, the higher the prevalence of osteoarthritis." (quote source) "It's a new hypothesis that vitamin K might be linked to osteoarthritis," said Neogi. "In animals models, there are some bone and cartilage proteins known to be vitamin K dependent. When those proteins don't work properly, the animals get a lot of bone and cartilage abnormalities, which resemble osteoarthritis."

For those of us with this condition, there are hand exercises that can help alleviate the pain and stiffness. Surgery is a radical last resort for those who lose complete mobility of the fingers or knees. Unlike Rheumatoid Arthritis, there are no medications to help the joints get healthier. At best, pain relievers are the only medication for relief. The primary chemical form of Vitamin K in our diet consists of Phylloquinone, found mostly in leafy green vegetables. Surprisingly, it's also found in cheese, liver, coffee, and green tea. It's not uncommon for people in the United States to have insufficient quantities of Phylloquinone in their blood.

Research is ongoing and I would recommend checking the references cited in this article for important updates, as optimal or adequate levels of this substance haven't been determined yet in the research models for osteoarthritic conditions. A cautionary note! If you bleed easily or take a blood-thinning medication, such as Coumadin or Warfarin, do NOT increase your Vitamin K intake. As with all medical opinions found on the internet, always check with your physician first before altering your diet with supplements.