Metformin as Adjuvant Therapy in Obese Knee Osteoarthritis Patients

Metformin is a safe, well-tolerated oral biguanide widely used as first-line therapy for type 2 diabetes for over 50 years. In addition to its glucose-lowering effects, metformin modulates inflammatory and metabolic factors resulting in weight loss and reduced inflammation and plasma lipids. Data from animal studies suggest that metformin could limit OA development and progression, possibly through activating AMPK.

Retrospective cohort study of participants with OA and type 2 diabetes reported that patients receiving a combination of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors and metformin therapy had a lower risk of joint replacement than those receiving cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors alone .

These findings shed light on possible therapeutic potential of metformin in treatment of OA.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients have symptomatic and radiological evidence of OA in one or both knee joints.
• Age ≥ 45 years.
• Both obese male and female will be included (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²).

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases, crystal deposition arthritis or infection-induced OA.
• Patient with hypertension or diabetes mellitus.
• Patient with hepatic or renal impairment.
• Patients who have active peptic ulcer.
• Patients with positive malignancy.
• Steroid injection into the affected knee joint within 3 months of recruitment for the study.
• Pregnant or lactating female patients.