PURPOSE: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating disease of joints. Currently, there are no optimal treatment options to cure OA.
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether resveratrol treatment can improve physical function in knee OA patients. Trial design This investigation employed a single center-based, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-regulated clinical trial structure.
METHODS: We led a 12-week clinical study involving 137 knee OA patients, aged 63-73. Participants were divided to form a placebo-taking group (n = 70) and an intervention group receiving 500 mg/day of resveratrol (n = 67). Data collection occurred at the start and after 12 weeks. Key study outcomes included: pain intensity (VAS), Oxford Knee Score (OKS), WOMAC index score, knee flexion range of motion (ROM), short physical performance battery (SPPB), handgrip strength (HGS), gait velocity, and levels of SIRT1, C-reactive protein (CRP), and 8-isoprostanes.
RESULTS: After accounting for dropouts, 122 patients were analyzed (placebo: n = 65, resveratrol: n = 57). Resveratrol treatment significantly reduced pain intensity and WOMAC scores, while increasing OKS scores, ROM, gait velocity, HGS, and overall SPPB performance (p < 0.05). In addition, OA patients on resveratrol showed higher plasma SIRT1 and lower 8-isoprostanes levels (p < 0.05). The correlation analysis demonstrated robust associations between changes in plasma SIRT1 and improvements in OKS scores (r= 0.204, p = 0.0005), SPPB total (r= 0.223, p = 0.0001), HGS (r= 0.119, p = 0.008), and gait speed (r= 0.138, p = 0.004). 2 2 2 2
CONCLUSION: Overall, resveratrol supplementation enhances the physical capabilities of OA patients by increasing SIRT1 levels. Further research is warranted to more fully define resveratrol's impact on knee OA.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: This investigation was retrospectively registered on the Open Science Framework (OSF), ensuring transparency and accessibility of the study protocol and outcomes. Registration date (21st April 2025) and URL for protocol ( https://osf.io/registries/my-registrations ).