Liraglutide trial to assess skin autofluorescence changes in knee osteoarthritis patients

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a prevalent, debilitating joint disease, often exacerbated by obesity, which imposes both mechanical stress and systemic metabolic burden. Current KOA management includes weight loss and pain relief, yet the role of underlying metabolic dysfunction in disease progression is increasingly recognized. Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) are metabolic byproducts that accumulate in tissues, driving oxidative stress and inflammation, processes implicated in KOA pathology. Understanding how interventions like liraglutide-induced weight loss impact these specific biomarkers could reveal critical insights into KOA pathogenesis and potential therapeutic avenues beyond symptom management.

This sub-study is part of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial (NCT02905864) for overweight/obese knee osteoarthritis patients. Participants undergo an 8-week low-calorie diet run-in phase. At week 0, they are randomized to receive either liraglutide 3 mg or placebo daily as an add-on to dietetic guidance for 15 weeks. The sub-study specifically measures skin autofluorescence (a proxy for AGE concentration) at enrollment, randomization (week 0), and end of trial (week 15).