# VITAMIN C EFFECT ON SURGICALLY INDUCED OSTEOARTHRITIS

> **NIH NIH R01** · TUFTS UNIVERSITY BOSTON · 1987 · $200,305

## Abstract

Ostoarthritis is characterized by chronic degradation of articular cartilage in
the afflicted joints.  Histochemical and biochemical findings suggest that
increased levels of lysosomal enzymes are associated with the breakdown of
sulfated proteoglycans, the principal extracellular constituents lost during the
early stages of the disease.  Arylsulfatases A and B, in particular, have been
shown to be elevated in the articular cartilage derived from individuals with
osteoarthritis.
Studies conducted in tissue culture have indicated that vitamin C simultaneously
inhibited arylsulfatase activities and stabilized newly synthesized sulfated
proteoglycans in the cell layer of human chondrocytes derived from both normal
and osteoarthritic articular cartilage.  If ascorbic acid could act similarly in
vivo, then it might be possible to use this natural compound therapeutically in
early stages of degenerative joint disease.

Guinea pigs, like man, cannot synthesize Vitamin C endogenously.  To test the
effect of vitamin C on the development of osteoarthritis, a surgical lesion will
be created in the right knee joints of animals maintained on various levels of
dietary vitamin C.  The development of osteoarthritis in the operated knees will
be monitored by sacrificing animals at various time intervals and examining the
articular cartilage for gross and microscopic changes.  In addition, the
cartilage will be analyzed for arylsulfatase activities and proteoglycan
content.  The pathological changes in knees of animals on highly enriched and
minimal vitamin C diets will be compared with a view to discerning at what level
ascorbic acid may be of benefit in the treatment of osteoarthritis.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3155247
- **Project number:** 5R01AR022149-08
- **Recipient organization:** TUFTS UNIVERSITY BOSTON
- **SAM.gov UEI:** C1F5LNUF7W86
- **Principal Investigator:** EDITH RICHMOND SCHWARTZ
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $200,305
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1978-04-01 → 1990-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3155247

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3155247, VITAMIN C EFFECT ON SURGICALLY INDUCED OSTEOARTHRITIS (5R01AR022149-08). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-24 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3155247. Licensed CC0.

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