Summary: One of the latest studies confirms semaglutide’s role in preventing and managing osteoarthritis in obese adults. In the long run, it can significantly reduce joint pain inflammation, prevent disease progress, and enhance joint function.
Medications acting on glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptors are widely used to manage diabetes and body weight. Although these medications were initially created for managing diabetes, later studies found that they are highly effective for weight loss in those with or without diabetes.
Since they only lower blood glucose in those with elevated levels, they are safe for non-diabetics, too. Among various GLP-1 agonists, semaglutide, which is more commonly known as Ozempic or Wegovy, has been most extensively tested for weight loss. It is now among the most sold or recommended weight loss drugs.
There is a reason why it has become so popular. It helps lose 15% or more of body weight in a year, something previous weight loss pills could not achieve. However, semaglutide or Ozempic has many other benefits for metabolic health. This means that it is also good for reducing the risk of a range of metabolic disorders like heart disease and stroke, and some studies even suggest that it may lower Alzheimer’s risk. So, why not test it to prevent and manage osteoarthritis, the most common joint disorder of older adults?
For those exploring treatment options, interventional pain management in St. Louis might also provide valuable insights into managing metabolic and joint health concerns.
There is some sound reason to test semaglutide for joint disorders. Previous studies have confirmed that obesity is one of the most significant risk factors for osteoarthritis. Further, previous studies have shown that weight loss is an effective way to manage these conditions.
Thus, for example, studies show that obesity is associated with 4-times higher osteoarthritis risk. Some studies suggest that this increased risk could be even much higher, like 7 to 8 times higher in obese people than those with normal body weight.
So, in one of the new clinical studies published in The New England Journal of Medicine, researchers specifically tested this drug for reducing knee-osteoarthritis-related pain in obese people.
The study enrolled 407 individuals with a BMI above 40. 81.6% of the study participants were women. After 68 weeks of semaglutide treatment, they lost an average of about 14% of body weight. But, more interestingly, researchers found that the semaglutide group had a significant decline in pain scores for knee arthritis. Thus, on the WOMAC pain score, there was a −41.7 points decline in pain in the semaglutide group, compared to −27.5 points with placebo. Not only that, researchers also found a significant improvement in joint mobility with semaglutide.
Of course, it is understood that significant benefit was due to weight loss. However, researchers think there are other reasons for such a benefit, requiring further studies.
Some previous studies have shown that semaglutide is good for lowering blood glucose levels or body weight and may also lower inflammation, which means that its ability to lower inflammation may also contribute to the benefits. Moreover, it is quite likely that semaglutide may have a disease-modifying effect on the condition.
Consulting a chronic pain specialist could help better understand these multifaceted benefits and guide tailored management strategies for osteoarthritis and related conditions.
Sure, this study did not explore this aspect, that is, the inflammation-lowering effect of semaglutide. However, it is quite likely that future studies may focus on this aspect, too. Further, it would be interesting to explore if this drug is also helpful to those with less severe obesity or those who are just moderately overweight.
At present, semaglutide or Ozempic is not approved for treating osteoarthritis. However, weight management has to be a part of managing the condition. This means that doctors can prescribe these drugs to those living with obesity, and it will not just help with weight loss but also help prevent or manage osteoarthritis and may lower the risk of a range of metabolic disorders.
Source:
Bliddal, H., Bays, H., Czernichow, S., Hemmingsson, J. U., Hjelmesæth, J., Morville, T. H., Koroleva, A., Neergaard, J. S., Sánchez, P. V., Wharton, S., Wizert, A., & Kristensen, L. E. (2024). Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Persons with Obesity and Knee Osteoarthritis. New England Journal of Medicine, 391(17), 1573–1583. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2403664
