Could GLP-1 receptor agonists treat arthritis?
There is a lot of buzz around GLP-1 receptor agonists (such as Ozempic, Wegovy or Mutjaro), which have been a popular medication for treating type II diabetes and for curbing hunger as an aid for weight loss. With healthy weight loss comes a list of health benefits including less stress on your metabolism and reduced physical stress your joints.
However, this article from a group in China shows that GLP-1 receptor agonists alter the energy generating pathway, switching from the less energy efficient glycolysis, to the TCA cycle and oxidative phosphorylation in chondrocytes (cartilage cells) using mouse models. This allows for more energy to be used in cartilage tissue repair and maintenance independent from reduced stress due to weight loss.
In a randomised human trial of 20 individuals being treated for obesity/osteoarthritis, those given the standard treatment with the addition of a GLP-1 receptor agonist lead to an increased cartilage thickness of 17%, compared to those on the treatment without GLP1- receptor agonist increasing by 1%.
This study shows that not only do GLP-1 receptor agonists improve osteoarthritis by reducing physical stress due to weight loss, but independently alter the metabolism of cartilage cells and can even aid cartilage regeneration.
Please read the paper and let us know what you think!
