It has been estimated that 23 million People take each day levothyroxine, which is indicated for hypothyroidism, however new analysis to be offered on the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) convention reveals the medicine can result in increased losses of bone mass and density over time.
For the examine, researchers in contrast twin X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan information for 81 sufferers utilizing levothyroxine and 364 management sufferers. The whole cohort had a median age of 73 and a 2.35 thyrotropin (TSH) degree on the preliminary go to, based on the examine.1
Noting a median 6.3-year follow-up, the researchers discovered that sufferers within the levothyroxine cohort had higher longitudinal lack of complete physique bone mass (beta coefficient: -6.53) and density (beta coefficient: -0.0014).1
“Our examine means that even when following present pointers, levothyroxine use seems to be related to higher bone loss in older adults,” famous Shadpour Demehri, M.D., a co-senior writer of the examine and a professor within the Johns Hopkins Medication Division of Radiology and Radiological Science.
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The affiliation between levothyroxine and longitudinal lack of complete physique bone mass was stronger with increased use of the medicine. The researchers famous beta coefficients of -12 and -8.23 for complete physique bone mass loss on the second and third tertiles, respectively, of the imply common serum-free thyroxine (FT4) degree.1
“The extra pronounced results at increased ranges of FT4 counsel that LT4 use could also be related to a relative extra of thyroid hormone in some older adults on remedy, even with TSH ranges throughout the reference vary,” famous lead examine writer Elena Ghotbi, M.D., and colleagues.
Reference
1. Ghotbi E, Ibad H, Xue Q, Mammen J, Demehri S. Levothyroxine use and bone loss in euthyroid older adults: a longitudinal evaluation from Baltimore longitudinal examine of growing older. Poster to be offered on the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) 2024 a hundred and tenth Scientific Meeting and Annual Assembly Dec. 1-5, 2024. Accessible at: https://www.rsna.org/annual-meeting .
