GLP-1s Like Ozempic, Mounjaro May Lower Fracture Risk in Type 2 Diabetes

A new study suggests that GLP-1 medications, such as Ozempic and Mounjaro, may help lower the risk of fragility fractures in people with type 2 diabetes. Fragility fractures, which occur when bones break from falls that typically wouldn't harm healthy bones, were most notably reduced in hip, femur, and spine fractures. However, the study is observational and cannot definitively prove the fracture risk-reducing effects of GLP-1 drugs.

Researchers from UCLA's Department of Orthopedic Surgery emphasize the need for further studies to understand the potential impact of these medications on bone health. GLP-1 drugs, which lower fracture risk by 21%, may reduce fracture risk by altering inflammation and the balance between bone-building and breakdown cells. However, the exact mechanism is not yet established.

Dr. Marc J. Levine, an orthopedic surgeon, notes that people with type 2 diabetes are at higher risk for these fractures due to the effects of diabetes on bone strength and nerve damage, which can affect balance. The study analyzed health data from nearly 134,000 American adults aged 50-90 with type 2 diabetes and found that those who used GLP-1 medications had a significantly lower risk of fragility fractures compared to those using DPP-4 inhibitors over a three-year period.