United States: The Journal of the American Medical Association published research that shows Metformin—a well-known diabetes medication—effectively minimizes knee arthritis pain in patients who have obesity thereby postponing or eliminating the requirement of knee replacement surgery, as reported by HealthDay.
How It Works
Metformin is already widely used to lower blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes patients. But researchers believe it also targets low-grade inflammation and metabolic pathways involved in knee osteoarthritis, offering a new and affordable way to manage joint pain.
“It’s a different way to treat knee osteoarthritis pain,” said senior researcher Dr. Flavia Cicuttini of Monash University, Australia.
Study Highlights
In a six-month trial with 107 overweight or obese participants suffering from knee pain:
- Those who took Metformin saw a 31-point reduction in pain
- The placebo group only experienced a 19-point decrease
These results make Metformin a cost-effective alternative compared to standard pain relief options like creams, acetaminophen, or NSAIDs.
Before You Choose Surgery…
Dr. Cicuttini noted that many patients turn to knee replacement when other options fail, but that comes with risks:
- 20–30% of knee replacement patients report dissatisfaction
- Early surgeries often lead to future repeat procedures
Metformin could offer a less invasive option before taking that surgical step.
More Movement, Less Pain
Doctors are already familiar with Metformin’s safety profile. If it can help patients stay active with less pain, it may delay or eliminate the need for surgery, as reported by HealthDay.
“If people on Metformin have less knee pain and are able to do more physical activity, then knee replacements can wait,” said Cicuttini.
What’s Next?
While the results are promising, researchers call for larger-scale clinical trials to confirm Metformin’s full benefits in treating knee osteoarthritis.