Zhang T, Liu JL, Wang W, Ren K, Liu XM, Cao K, Li Z, Cheng XY, Zhang XY, Xu WS. Lipid metabolism disorders and osteoarthritis progression: Potential intervention with plant active ingredients. World J Orthop 2026; 17(2): 113405 [DOI: 10.5312/wjo.v17.i2.113405]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Wen-Sheng Xu, Chief Physician, Deputy Director, Professor, Senior Researcher, The First Affiliated Hospital, Baotou Medical College, No. 41 Linyin Road, Kundulun District, Baotou 014000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. xwsoye@126.com
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Orthopedics
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Minireviews
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This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Feb 18, 2026 (publication date) through Feb 4, 2026
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World Journal of Orthopedics
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2218-5836
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Zhang T, Liu JL, Wang W, Ren K, Liu XM, Cao K, Li Z, Cheng XY, Zhang XY, Xu WS. Lipid metabolism disorders and osteoarthritis progression: Potential intervention with plant active ingredients. World J Orthop 2026; 17(2): 113405 [DOI: 10.5312/wjo.v17.i2.113405]
World J Orthop. Feb 18, 2026; 17(2): 113405 Published online Feb 18, 2026. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v17.i2.113405
Lipid metabolism disorders and osteoarthritis progression: Potential intervention with plant active ingredients
Tao Zhang, Jin-Long Liu, Wei Wang, Ke Ren, Xiao-Mei Liu, Ke Cao, Zhen Li, Xi-Yao Cheng, Xin-Yu Zhang, Wen-Sheng Xu
Tao Zhang, Jin-Long Liu, Ke Ren, Xiao-Mei Liu, Ke Cao, School of Basic Medicine and Forensic Medicine, Baotou Medical College, Baotou 014000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
Wei Wang, Wen-Sheng Xu, The First Affiliated Hospital, Baotou Medical College, Baotou 014000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
Zhen Li, Xin-Yu Zhang, Clinical Medical College, Baotou Medical College, Baotou 014000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
Xi-Yao Cheng, School of Pharmacy, Baotou Medical College, Baotou 014000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
Author contributions: Zhang T, Liu JL, and Wang W contributed to literature search; Zhang T contributed to screening, analyzing, and interpreting major literature, and writing initial drafts; Liu JL contributed to literature organization; Wang W was responsible for mapping; Ren K and Liu XM Participated in data collection and organization; Cao K Participated in the proofreading and formatting of the manuscript; Li Z, Cheng XY, and Zhang XY Participated in the editing, polishing, and final proofreading of the manuscript; Xu WS determined the research direction and conduct final checks on the overall structure, core arguments, and other aspects of the article.
Supported by Natural Science Foundation of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Project, No. 2022MS08039; Lucheng Talent Program of Baotou, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (China), No. YFYRC-LCYC-2023002; 2025 College Students’ Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program Project, No. 202510130001; and Graduate Education and Teaching Reform Project in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, No. JG2024006Z.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Wen-Sheng Xu, Chief Physician, Deputy Director, Professor, Senior Researcher, The First Affiliated Hospital, Baotou Medical College, No. 41 Linyin Road, Kundulun District, Baotou 014000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. xwsoye@126.com
Received: August 25, 2025 Revised: September 21, 2025 Accepted: December 4, 2025 Published online: February 18, 2026 Processing time: 163 Days and 18.9 Hours
Abstract
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease characterized by progressive articular cartilage destruction, subchondral bone alterations, and localized inflammation. With global population aging, the prevalence of OA continues to rise, imposing a substantial social and economic burden. In recent years, lipid metabolism disorders have been identified as key contributors to the development and progression of OA. Adipose tissue functions not only as an energy reservoir but also as an endocrine organ that regulates immune responses, inflammation, and cartilage degradation through the secretion of adipokines (e.g., leptin and lipocalin). Abnormal fatty acid metabolism, particularly the imbalance between fatty acid synthesis and catabolism and the dysregulated secretion of adipokines, is closely associated with OA pathogenesis. Bioactive phytochemicals are increasingly recognized as promising therapeutic agents for regulating lipid metabolism and slowing OA progression, due to their favorable biological activity and low toxicity. This review summarizes the relationship between lipid metabolism disorders and OA, highlights the mechanisms by which representative phytochemicals (e.g., curcumin, green tea polyphenols, and resveratrol) regulate lipid metabolism and attenuate OA progression, and further analyzes the endocrine role of adipose tissue, the impact of fatty acid metabolism on OA, and the therapeutic potential of phytochemicals through lipid metabolism modulation.
Core Tip: This review summarizes the relationship between lipid metabolism disorders and osteoarthritis (OA), highlights the mechanisms by which representative phytochemicals (e.g., curcumin, green tea polyphenols, resveratrol) regulate lipid metabolism and attenuate OA progression, and further analyzes the endocrine role of adipose tissue, the impact of fatty acid metabolism on OA, and the therapeutic potential of phytochemicals through lipid metabolism modulation.
