close
close

Association-anemone

Bite-sized brilliance in every update

    • Weight loss medications can help reduce knee pain
    asane

    Weight loss medications can help reduce knee pain

    Online Niel Posted on

    A man wrapping a bandage around his knee.Share on Pinterest
    Weight loss medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy have been credited with providing strong relief from knee pain caused by osteoarthritis. Nazar Rybak/Getty Images
    • A new study suggests that using semaglutide may help reduce severe knee pain.
    • People also lost weight during the study.
    • The reduction in pain likely occurred because weight loss leads to less joint stress.
    • Semaglutide is also able to balance blood sugar and reduce inflammation.
    • Experts say we’re likely to see continued progress with drugs like semaglutide.

    While semaglutide (marketed under the brand name Ozempic and Wegovy) is best known as a drug for treatment type 2 diabetes and obesity, research is increasingly finding that it may have applications outside of these uses.

    For example, recently studied found that it could help reduce the risk of opioid overdose, early death, hidradenitis suppurativa, and Alzheimer’s disease.

    Now, new research published on October 30, 2024, in New England Journal of Medicine is added to the list, noting that once a week semaglutide use has been associated with relief of severe knee pain associated with obesity and osteoarthritis.

    right Arthritis Foundationosteoarthritis is a “wear and tear” condition. It can cause:

    • cartilage degradation
    • deformed bones
    • chronic pain
    • inflammation
    • stiffness
    • loss of mobility

    Obesity is one of the causes of osteoarthritis because of the stress that adds weight to the joints, especially the knees, hips and spine.

    The study enrolled 407 patients with an average age of 56 years to evaluate the effects of semaglutide use on knee pain.

    Additionally, these individuals had a mean WOMAC pain score of 70.9 on a scale of 0 to 100, with higher scores signifying more severe pain.

    All were diagnosed with moderate to severe knee pain.

    The majority of study participants (81.6%) were female.

    Everyone, regardless of whether they received semaglutide or not, received counseling about diet and exercise.

    Over the course of the 68-week study, people who used semaglutide lost an average of 13.7 percent of their body weight, compared with only a 3.2 percent weight loss in those who did not use the drug.

    Those who used semaglutide also saw an average reduction in their WOMAC pain score of 41.7 points, while the untreated group had an average decrease of 27.5 points.

    “In osteoarthritis, every pound of weight lost takes about four pounds of pressure off the knee joints,” he explained. “So, the average of the study13.7%Losing weight likely brings considerable relief to the joints just by reducing this mechanical load.”

    However, according to Singh, there could be more at play. The drug may have some direct effects on pain relief.

    “We’re starting to see that GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic may have anti-inflammatory effects,” he said, “which could help with knee pain beyond weight loss.”

    Singh said this inflammation is a major factor in osteoarthritis that can lead to joint pain and deterioration.

    “Even a slight reduction in inflammation can lead to a noticeable improvement in pain and rigidityhe said.

    Singh also pointed to semaglutide’s ability to stabilize blood sugar, which can reduce inflammation.

    “This continues to be exciting evidence in areas outside of weight loss that benefit quality-of-life issues and have profound effects on reducing health care dollars in the future after the devastating effects of osteoarthritis on the health care system,” he said. he said.

    Seeds added that he believes we will see continued progress in drugs like semaglutide.

    “My belief is that as we improve the overall efficiency of cellular mitochondrial function with continued advances in GLP1RA, we will be humbled by continued beneficial signaling pathways that improve overall health,” he said.

    Seeds also noted that we are seeing progress with GLP-1 receptor agonists, moving from semaglutide (binds to GLP-1 receptors) to tirzepatide (binds to GLP-1 and GIP receptors) retatrutide (binds to GLP-1, GIP and glucagon receptors).

    “The evolution from GLP-1 receptor agonists (semaglutide) to dual (tirzepatide) and triple (retatrutide) agonists represents a significant progression in increased cellular efficiency, optimizing metabolic responses and therapeutic outcomes,” he said.

    “These are exciting times in peptide development and the clinical translation of life-changing results!”

    A study published in New England Journal of Medicine found that use of the type 2 diabetes and weight loss drug semaglutide was associated with improved pain scores in those with osteoarthritis, a painful, degenerative condition that affects the joints.

    The weight loss produced by this drug reduces the strain on the joints.

    In addition, semaglutide helps balance blood sugar and reduce inflammation. The sum of these effects is likely to be reduced osteoarthritis pain on his knees.

    Experts say we’re likely to see continued beneficial effects from drugs like semaglutide because of the way GLP-1 drugs influence signaling pathways.

    Online Niel
    View all posts

    You Might Also Like