Can This Weight Loss Drug Reduce Knee Pain? Experts Measure Weight

Semaglutide, sold under the popular brand names Ozempic and Wegovy, is prescribed primarily for the management of weight loss and type 2 diabetes. But the medication can also help reduce knee pain in obese people with osteoarthritis, according to a recent study.

Test results published in New England Journal of Medicine found people with osteoarthritis who took semaglutide and followed a healthy diet and exercise regimen had less knee pain than those who used diet and exercise alone to lose weight. The trial was funded by Novo Nordisk, the company that makes semaglutide.

“There is a great need for non-surgical and sustainable treatment options for those living with obesity-related osteoporosis,” study lead author Henning Bliddal, MD, professor of rheumatology and director of Parker Institute at Copenhagen University Hospital. Press release. “The trial is intended to provide concrete evidence of how semaglutide can help these people.”

Osteoarthritis is a common joint condition where the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of bones wears down over time, causing inflammation and leading to pain, stiffness and reduced mobility. About 528 million people worldwide have osteoarthritis, with the knee being the most commonly affected joint, according to the World Health Organization.

The clinical trial included about 400 patients with knee arthritis who were also overweight. All patients had a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more, which is the threshold for obesity, and about 40% had a BMI of more than 40, showing severe obesity.

The average age of the participants was 56, and almost 80% were women, who are more prone to osteoporosis than men. Participants received weekly injections of semaglutide or placebo for 68 weeks, as well as guidance on healthy eating and exercise.

At the end of the trial, participants who received semaglutide lost an average of about 14% of their body weight, or about 33 kilograms, while those in the placebo group lost 3%, or about 7 kilograms. In addition, knee pain scores for semaglutide decreased by approximately 42 points on a 100-point scale, while participants in the placebo group decreased with 28 points.

The study suggests that semaglutide may help reduce knee pain, but research has not found whether the drug improves pain without weight loss, said Mir Ali, MD, a surgeon. board-certified, bariatric surgeon, and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical. Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California. “Patients with the greatest improvement saw the greatest weight loss,” he said. Good health. “We can certainly associate the improvement in osteoarthritis with weight loss, but we cannot say that there is a direct effect of the medication.”

Alan Beyer, MD, an orthopedic surgeon and chief medical officer of the Hoag Orthopedic Institute in Southern California, agreed that the study does not prove that semaglutide directly reduces knee pain. Weight loss is likely the “real reason” for the improvement, he said.

“If you’re talking about a 300-pound person, a 13% weight loss is a 40-pound weight loss. That’s a significant reduction in someone’s knee pain,” said Beyer. “So I don’t think there was anything in this study to suggest that the medication caused their knees to go down.”

In fact, it’s known that being overweight is a risk factor for osteoarthritis and that losing weight improves knee pain, Beyer and Ali added. Research shows for every pound lost, there is a reduction of about four pounds of stress on the knees with each step. So, if a person loses 40 kilograms, that equals 160 kilograms less pressure on their knees per step.

“We see improvement in osteoarthritis and knee pain in patients, no matter how they lose weight, whether it’s just diet and exercise, surgery or medication,” Ali said.

To determine whether semaglutide improves knee pain without weight loss, researchers would need to conduct a study in which participants lose the same amount of weight through other means, such as diet and exercise. exercise, without using semaglutide, Beyer said. If those patients also experience a reduction in knee pain, it may indicate that weight loss, not medication, is the cause of the pain.

There is not enough evidence to support semaglutide as a direct treatment for osteoarthritis or knee pain, Ali said. “I don’t see the FDA saying it’s a direct treatment for osteoarthritis unless there are studies that show improvement in joint pain without weight loss,” he said.

Beyer added that no licensed physician would prescribe semaglutide solely to relieve knee pain. “They are going to prescribe Ozempic for the patient to lose weight, which can reduce knee pain,” he said. But Ozempic is not an approved treatment.

If you’re experiencing knee pain or symptoms of osteoarthritis, Beyer and Ali recommend talking to a health care provider for a proper diagnosis. They can help determine the root cause of your knee pain and discuss the most effective treatment options that suit your needs.

Common treatments for osteoarthritis and knee pain often start with lifestyle changes, such as weight loss and strength-building exercises, which can reduce some of the stress on the hip joint. , said Beyer.

Tylenol and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen are also commonly used to manage pain, Beyer said. For more severe cases, steroid or lubricant injections are given to reduce inflammation and improve joint function, Ali said.

Doctors may recommend surgical procedures, such as knee replacement, as a last resort for severe joint damage, Beyer added.