All That Glitters Is Gold: Can Gold Treat Osteoarthritis Pain?

Pain Research Forum, 21 July 2022

The use of gold and gold-containing compounds in medicine can be traced back thousands of years in certain cultures. Gold salts have previously been shown to reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation, but caution must be exercised when considering its use – gold salts have toxic effects on the kidneys, liver, and skin. Over the last decade, several studies have reported higher pain thresholds in both healthy and osteoarthritic animals following gold particle injections, with one study using intra-articular injections. Now, a new exploratory and proof-of-concept study led by Sten Rasmussen (Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Denmark) demonstrates how gold microparticles have a similar effect in humans. Read more.