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Higher Risk of Osteoporosis with Popular Diabetes Drug
While studying diabetic mice, researchers discovered that a popular diabetes drug rosiglitazone, marketed under the name of Avandia, could lead to osteoporosis. This could help explain why there is an increased risk of fractures among diabetics.
Avandia was recently labeled with warnings for the risk of heart failure in some patients. The company which markets the drug, GlaxoSmithKline, has already acknowledged a study which found a higher risk of fractures for women who use the drug. This report is the first which tries to explain the cause of fractures linked to the drug.
Bones seem to be a solid structure. However, they are constantly broken down and rebuilt by the body. It was originally thought this drug reduced bone building activity. The results of the study, published in Nature Medicine, revealed that the drug increased cell activity that degrades bones.
The results of this study "has led to a better understanding of the challenges associated with long-term treatment of patients with Type II diabetes," said Ronald M. Evans of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, Calif., lead author of the report.
"It also provides a basis for the development of a 'next generation' of drug that can specifically dial out this side effect and a new insight into a previously unrecognized aspect of bone physiology that has important medical consequences," he said in an interview via e-mail.
Almost 21 million people in the U.S. have diabetes. Rosiglitazone is commonly prescribed for people with type 2 diabetes to improve response to insulin.
"Considering the widespread use of these drugs and the known action in people it is surprising that such a key observation had been missed," he said.
"The long-term use of rosiglitazone should be cautious in patients with higher risk of fractures such as older women," he added. Using it in combination with anti-osteoporosis drugs could be beneficial, he said.