A comprehensive metabolomic dataset of human synovial fluid in osteoarthritis and healthy controls

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disorder that causes chronic pain and disability. The synovial fluid (SF), which bathes the joint, reflects the pathological state and is a valuable source for biomarker discovery. However, a comprehensive metabolomic profile of SF in OA remains to be fully established. Here, we present a comprehensive metabolomic dataset derived from SF samples of 10 OA patients and 10 matched healthy controls. Using non-targeted metabolomics based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS), we identified 23,232 features, with 1,431 metabolites annotated. Comparative analysis revealed 163 significantly differential metabolites (118 upregulated, 45 downregulated). Functional enrichment and pathway analyses highlighted disruptions in amino acid metabolism, energy metabolism, and lipid pathways. Several metabolites showed high diagnostic potential in ROC analysis. This dataset provides a valuable resource for understanding OA-associated metabolic alterations and offers robust candidate biomarkers for OA diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring.