Glucose metabolism via the PPP is essential for the generation of NADPH that is required for reductive biosynthetic reactions such as those of cholesterol biosynthesis, bile acid synthesis, steroid hormone biosynthesis, and fatty acid synthesis
More interestingly, research has found that using siRNA to knock down the Growth factor independence 1 (Gfi1) gene in chondrocytes, or overexpressing this gene via intra-articular AAV-Gfi1 injection, inactivated the MAPK signaling pathway, subsequently observing downregulation of ferroptosis promoters such as Cox2 and Acsl4 and upregulation of ferroptosis inhibitors such as GPX4 and SLC7A11, ultimately alleviating cartilage degeneration, osteophyte formation, and synovitis, and improving OA progression (Jin et al., 2025)
Ongoing pain requiring frequent medication should prompt a medical review to identify safer long-term strategies
Long-term maintenance of efficacy of dapagliflozin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease
Phentermine is usually my first choice
Although this pilot study is a preliminary step in addressing this novel research area, future studies with larger sample sizes and extended intervention durations are recommended to confirmed its observations
