One of the most commonly prescribed drugs in the US might put users at a higher risk of an agonizing bone disease, according to new research.
Dr Ghotbi said: ‘Data indicates that a significant proportion of thyroid hormone prescriptions may be given to older adults without hypothyroidism.
The Johns Hopkins researchers didn’t study osteoporosis specifically, but low bone density is precursor to this condition, which affects roughly 10million people over age 50.
This includes thyroid hormones, sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone and growth hormones like insulin.
So, the theory is that if there is too much thyroid hormone in the body, the rate that bone tissue is lost outpaces the rate of new bone added, leading to osteoporosis.
According to new research, one of the most widely prescribed medications in the United States may increase the risk of a painful bone disease.
Levothyroxine, which is marketed under the brand name Synthroid, is one of the top five most commonly used drugs in the United States, with approximately 23 million people taking it daily.
It is a synthetic hormone that is prescribed to patients who have thyroid issues. The thyroid regulates energy, weight, and hair growth.
However, researchers discovered that compared to their peers of comparable weight, height, and health, patients who take the medication experience a higher rate of bone loss.
The study only examined older adults who are most susceptible to the detrimental effects of osteoporosis, a condition that causes weak bones and increases a person’s risk of falling.
However, John Hopkins University researchers advised adults of all ages using the medication to talk to their physicians about the risks.
They cautioned that many patients use Synthroid for so long that it’s unclear why it was prescribed in the first place or even if it’s still necessary.
Our study indicates that levothyroxine use appears to be linked to increased bone loss in older adults, even when current guidelines are followed, according to study co-author Professor Shadpour Demehri, a radiology expert at John Hopkins University in Maryland. “…
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The study will be fully presented next week in Chicago at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.
Researchers evaluated 81 levothyroxine users and 364 non-users for the study.
The participants’ average thyroid-stimulating hormone level was 2.35, and their average age was 73. The usual range for normal levels is 0–4 to 4–0 milliunits per liter (mU/L).
They discovered a “greater loss of total body bone mass and bone density” among those taking levothyroxine over a six-year follow-up.
Even patients with “normal” thyroid-stimulating hormone levels exhibited this.
Co-author of the study and Johns Hopkins associate professor of endocrinology, Dr. Jennifer Mammen, advised adults using levothyroxine to talk to their doctor about their treatment and to keep a close eye on their thyroid function tests.
“A risk-benefit analysis should be carried out, balancing the potency of the treatment indications against the possible side effects of levothyroxine in this population,” she stated. “.”.
This may also indicate that Synthroid is being prescribed excessively, according to Dr. Elena Ghotbi, a postdoctoral research fellow at John Hopkins University and the study’s lead author.
Data suggests that older adults without hypothyroidism may receive a sizable percentage of thyroid hormone prescriptions, according to Dr. Ghotbi.
The drug has been critically examined in previous papers.
Approximately 90% of patients may not require the medication, according to a 2023 Yale School of Medicine study.
Research has shown that overtreating patients with levothyroxine who may not need it increases risk, according to Dr. Joe El-Khoury, a laboratory medicine professor who led the study. “.”.
Although the researchers at Johns Hopkins did not specifically study osteoporosis, the condition, which affects about 10 million people over 50, is preceded by low bone density.
In osteoporosis, the outer walls of the bone thin and become brittle, making it easy to break due to the widening of holes inside the bone.
A person may then be at risk for serious bone fractures, including hip fractures, after a minor fall.
These hip fractures can impair a person’s mobility and independence and have been connected to an earlier death, according to Yale School of Medicine.
The prevalence of osteoporosis rises with age, but those who smoke, eat poorly, have arthritis, or have bone cancer are more likely to get the disease.
Hormones also affect the health of bones. Growth hormones like insulin, sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone, and thyroid hormones are all included in this.
Compared to men, women are five to eight times more likely to experience thyroid issues.
The American Thyroid Association states that these disorders can lead to infertility and heart disease if left untreated, though the exact cause is unknown.
The reason why thyroid hormones can alter bone is unknown to researchers. Imperial College London researchers have demonstrated that these hormones aid in regulating the rate at which cartilage—the dense, spongy cores of bone—replaces new bone in a healthy body.
This aids in preserving bone health, which includes controlling the rate of bone tissue loss.
According to the theory, osteoporosis results from the body losing bone tissue at a faster rate than new bone is formed when thyroid hormone levels are too high.
However, the Johns Hopkins team stated that additional research is required to demonstrate a connection between the two.
