Metformin as adjuvant therapy in obese knee osteoarthritis patients.

Aims: This study aimed at investigating the efficacy of metformin as adjuvant therapy for obese knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients, considering its anti-inflammatory and cartilage-protective effects.

Patients And Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 50 obese knee OA patients were assigned randomly to two groups, the metformin group (n = 25) which was treated with metformin 500 mg orally BID plus celecoxib 200 mg orally once daily, and the placebo group (n = 25) which was treated with placebo tablets BID plus celecoxib 200 mg orally once daily for 12 weeks. Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein (COMP), C-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-1), and Interleukin 1-beta (IL-1β) serum levels were measured, while Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) score assessed knee pain, stiffness, and physical function at baseline and after 12 weeks.