Widely Used Diabetes Medication May Alleviate Knee Arthritis and Obesity Symptoms
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Synopsis
A recent study has found that metformin, a common diabetes medication, can reduce knee osteoarthritis pain and help manage obesity, potentially delaying the need for knee replacement surgery.
Key Takeaways
- Metformin may alleviate knee OA pain in non-diabetic patients.
- Participants experienced a significant reduction in pain levels.
- The study suggests a cost-effective alternative for managing knee OA.
- Increased physical activity may be possible with reduced pain.
- Larger trials are needed for conclusive evidence.
New Delhi, April 25 (NationPress) A widely used diabetes medication can assist in alleviating pain for individuals suffering from knee osteoarthritis (OA) and obesity, while also potentially postponing the necessity for knee replacement surgeries, according to a recent study published on Friday.
Researchers from Monash University in Australia discovered that metformin—a medication frequently prescribed for type 2 diabetes—can effectively lessen knee arthritis pain even in patients who do not have diabetes.
“Metformin presents a promising and cost-effective option to enhance knee pain relief for those affected by knee OA and obesity,” stated the lead researcher, Professor Flavia Cicuttini, who oversees the Musculoskeletal Unit at the university.
The six-month randomized clinical trial, entirely executed as a community-based study through telehealth, included 107 participants experiencing knee osteoarthritis pain (comprising 73 women and 34 men) with an average age of 60. Participants consumed up to 2,000 mg of metformin daily for six months, while others received a placebo. None of the participants had diabetes.
Knee pain was assessed using a 0-100 scale, with 100 representing the worst pain.
The published results in JAMA indicated that the metformin group experienced a 31.3 point decrease in pain after six months, compared to an 18.9 point decrease in the placebo group, signifying a moderate effect on pain relief.
Current treatments for knee OA include lifestyle modifications like exercise and weight loss, which are often challenging for patients, alongside medications such as paracetamol, topical anti-inflammatory creams, and oral anti-inflammatory drugs that offer limited benefits and may be unsuitable for some patients due to safety concerns.
Professor Cicuttini remarked that effective treatments for knee pain in osteoarthritis are scarce, prompting some patients and their healthcare providers to explore alternative options, including surgical interventions.
This situation has led to significant challenges in managing knee OA, including an uptick in knee replacements performed at earlier OA stages.
Professor Cicuttini highlighted that metformin now provides general practitioners with an additional option to offer patients alongside weight management and increased physical activity.
“Metformin influences various factors affecting the knee, including low-grade inflammation and other metabolic processes crucial in knee OA,” she elaborated.
Describing metformin as a low-cost and safe medication, the expert emphasized its potential to delay the need for knee replacements until absolutely necessary. If patients on metformin experience reduced knee pain and can engage in more physical activity, the timing for knee replacements can be postponed.
Nevertheless, the researchers emphasized the necessity of a larger clinical trial due to the limited sample size of the study.
