Editorial Type:
Article Category: Research Article
 | 
Online Publication Date: 18 Aug 2025

Body Mass Index influences tibiofemoral cartilage composition and biochemistry in individuals with anterior cruciate ligament injury

Full access
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
, and
DOI: 10.4085/1062-6050-0027.25
Save
Download PDF

ABSTRACT

Context:

A history of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and high body mass index (BMI) are strong risk factors for incident knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Limited research has evaluated the interaction between ACL injury and high BMI on early deleterious changes in cartilage health.

Objectives:

The purpose of this study was to determine differences in T1ρ relaxation time and serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (sCOMP) concentration between individuals with high and normal BMI following an ACL injury.

Design:

A cross-sectional study

Setting:

A controlled laboratory setting

Patients:

Forty-two participants with primary ACL injuries were assigned to either the high-BMI (>25kg/m2; n=20; age: 22.9±.1; time between injury and visit: 3.6 ± 2.2 weeks) or normal-BMI (≤25kg/m2; n=22; age: 21.1±4.2; time between injury and visit: 3.3 ± 1.7 weeks) group based on their BMI.

Main Outcome Measure(s):

T1ρ relaxation time for the medial and lateral tibia (MTC and LTC) and femur for each participant, sCOMP concentrations, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS).

Results:

The high-BMI group, regardless of limbs, demonstrated greater T1ρ relaxation times in LTC (mean difference: 2.1±0.1ms; p=0.004; d=0.77) and MTC (mean difference: 1.7±0.4ms; p=0.04; d=0.44) knees compared to the normal-BMI group. The high-BMI group showed greater concentrations in sCOMP compared to the normal-BMI group (mean difference: 26.4±15.8 ng/mL; p=0.02; d=0.72). There were no differences in KOOS scores between group

Conclusions:

Overweight individuals experiencing primary ACL injuries exhibit higher T1ρ relaxation times in both their injured and uninjured limbs and sCOMP concentrations compared to normal-weight individuals with primary ACL injuries. Our findings indicate that BMI significantly impacts cartilage composition and biochemical changes associated with KOA development in individuals with ACL injuries within 3.5 weeks of injury.

Contributor Notes

Correspondence: Hyunwook Lee, PhD, ATC Department of Exercise and Sport Science University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill G413 Fetzer Hall, 210 South Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 Fax: 919- 962-0489 Phone: 617-901-1308 Email:hyunl@unc.edu
  • Download PDF