Meng T, Antony B, Venn A, et al. - Using log binomial or linear regressions, researchers explored the correlations of glucose homeostasis and metabolic syndrome (MetS) measures with knee cartilage defects and cartilage volume in young adults. Fasting blood biochemistry, waist circumference and blood pressure measures were obtained 4–5 years before knee MRI scans. Among 328 candidates (aged 26 to 36 years at baseline), 40 had hyperglycaemia and 21 had MetS. Insulin resistance, high waist circumference and low HDL-C have been linked to higher risk of tibiofemoral cartilage defects, indicating that glucose homeostasis and some components of MetS may affect early cartilage damage in young adults.