High cholesterol may trigger cell changes that lead to osteoarthritis

Tiny structures in cells that contain genetic material – mitochondria – could be harmed by high cholesterol, causing cartilage cells to die and the subsequent development of osteoarthritis.

The new research in The FASEB Journal suggests that mitochondria targeting antioxidants could be a viable treatment strategy for osteoarthritis.

“Our team has already begun working alongside dietitians to try to educate the public about healthy eating and how to keep cholesterol levels at a manageable level that won’t damage joints, in collaboration with orthopedic surgeons,” highlights Dr Indira Prasadam, who is involved in the work.

The scientist used rodents to show that those that had surgery and were fed with high-cholesterol diets showed more severe osteoarthritis development than those fed a normal diet. But when the rodents were exposed to the cholesterol-lowering drug atorvastatin and mitochondrion-targeted antioxidants, the development of osteoarthritis was markedly decreased in relation to the untreated groups.

Dr Thoru Pederson, editor-in-chief of The FASEB Journal comments:

“Just when we thought all the angles on osteoarthritis had been uncovered, a new lead like this comes along. The focus of hypercholesterolemia, whether familial or sporadic, has, of course, always been on arterial disease, but here we have a fascinating new discovery.”

Click here to read the original research.

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