Full Papers
Effects of cetylated fatty acids on knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of real-world evidence
K.-M. Tung1, P.-H. Pan2, Y.-T. Lin3, N.T. Nhu4, J.-L. Wu5, C.-C. Hu6, C. Chen7, W.-H. Hou8
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei; and Department of Medical Education, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
- Department of Paediatrics, Tungs’ Taichung MetroHarbor Hospital, Taichung; and Department of Post-Baccalaureate Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
- Faculty of Medicine, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Can Tho, Vietnam.
- Department of Orthopaedics, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University; Department of Orthopaedics, Taipei Medical University Hospital; Orthopaedics Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital; and Centers for Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University; Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University; Cochrane Taiwan, Taipei Medical University; and Evidence-Based Medicine Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taipei Medical University Hospital; Cochrane Taiwan, Taipei Medical University; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University; and Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. houwh@tmu.edu.tw
CER18854
Full Papers
PMID: 40737055 [PubMed]
Received: 23/04/2025
Accepted : 02/07/2025
In Press: 22/07/2025
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
Knee osteoarthritis (OA) continues to be a debilitating global health issue, with effective treatments that have minimal side effects still lacking in modern clinical practice. Cetylated fatty acids (CFAs), a group of esterified fatty acids administered either topically or orally to protect the synovial membrane and stabilise cell membranes, appears to be a promising therapeutic option.
METHODS:
We conducted a comprehensive search in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CENTRAL, and Web of Science from the inception until November 2024 to examine the therapeutic effects of CFAs. We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) with a CFA intervention group compared with a control group that received either a placebo or a non-CFA treatment, as well as pre-post experimental studies that investigate pre-treatment and post-treatment CFA interventions. Subgroup analyses for different forms of CFAs were also conducted.
RESULTS:
A total of 5 RCTs and 2 pre-post experimental studies with 357 participants were included. Significant improvements were observed in pain levels (SMD= -0.37, 95% CI= -0.60 to -0.15, p=0.0009), knee ROM (SMD=7.80, 95% CI=4.15 to 11.45, p<0.0001), and physical function (SMD= -0.32, 95% CI= -0.51 to -0.13, p=0.0007) after CFA intervention. No significant difference was observed in the degree of knee stiffness. As for the subgroup analysis, the significant improvements in pain, ROM, and physical function only observed when using oral CFA capsules instead of CFA cream.
CONCLUSIONS:
Overall, CFAs may improve pain levels, knee ROM, and physical function in patients with knee OA, particularly the oral form. Further research is required to determine the synergic effects as a supplementary regimen, longer term effects, and safety profiles of CFAs in patients with knee OA.
