The commonly used thiazolidinedione may place postmenopausal women suffering from type 2 diabetes at an increased risk of experiencing fracture, a new study finds.
Thiazolidinediones (TZD), also known as glitazones, are a class of antidiabetic medication which not only lowers the blood levels of glucose but also that of triglycerides and C-reactive protein. This group of drugs is also effective in reducing blood pressure values and improving the levels of HDL.
Rosiglitazone (Avandia), Pioglitazone (Actos), and Troglitazone (Rezulin) are the main drugs classified in this group.
Previous studies have focused on the effect of these drugs on the risk of developing cardiovascular events, pointing out the strong association between Avandia and the higher risk of death and cardiovascular problems in older patients.
According to the study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, diabetic women aged over 50 who have a history of fracture are 70 percent more likely to be taking a TZD drug.
Such an association, however, was not reported in younger women taking these drugs. As for men, fracture was only noted in those taking TZD and a loop diuretic at the same time.
The higher dose of the drug an individual is taking, the higher would be his/her risk of experiencing a fracture, they found.
While TZD is believed to cause fracture through reducing the formation of new bones and increasing the breakdown of the existing ones, the reported fractures were not considered as "typical osteoporosis fractures" as they were reported in different parts of the body.
"These are very effective medicines for some patients. We have to understand there are potential risks. Certainly anyone already considered to be at fracture risk -- a woman with osteoporosis -- or someone who suffers from instability or frequent falls, you should think carefully about the use of the medications. On the other hand, fractures in total [in Herman's study] were generally rare. Far more people didn't have fractures than did have," said David Kendall, MD, chief scientific and medical officer of the American Diabetes Association.
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