A recent study suggests that a type of diabetes medication may also help protect the spine.
The research, published in JAMA Surgery, found that people with type 2 diabetes who used GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) had a lower chance of suffering from vertebral fractures.
GLP-1 RAs are a group of medicines often used to help control blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. Some common drugs in this group include semaglutide and liraglutide. These medications are already known for helping with weight loss and improving heart health, but now scientists are finding that they may also protect bones.
The study was led by Dr. Wei-Thing Khor from the College of Medicine at National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan. The researchers looked at medical records from nearly 194,000 people with type 2 diabetes.
These records were taken from the TriNetX database and included two large groups: one that used GLP-1 RAs and one that didn’t. The groups were matched carefully to make sure other health factors were similar between them.
The results showed that people taking GLP-1 RAs had a lower risk of getting vertebral compression fractures. These are serious injuries where bones in the spine collapse or crack, often causing back pain and reduced mobility.
In the study, 1.5% of GLP-1 RA users had a fracture compared to 1.8% of nonusers. That may seem like a small difference, but in large groups of people, it can be meaningful. The odds of having a fracture were 17% lower for those using the medication.
The study also found that fewer people taking GLP-1 RAs needed surgeries like vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty, which are procedures to fix broken bones in the spine. Only 0.08% of GLP-1 RA users needed these treatments, compared to 0.10% of nonusers. Again, while these numbers are small, the findings were statistically significant.
The researchers believe this could mean GLP-1 RAs might have a protective effect on bones, especially the spine. However, they also say more research is needed to be sure. Since this study looked at past records and didn’t test the drugs directly in a controlled trial, it cannot prove that the medication caused the reduced fracture risk.
The authors of the study encourage future research to confirm these findings and to better understand how GLP-1 RAs might help strengthen bones. If confirmed, this could lead to new ways of preventing bone problems in people with diabetes—especially since diabetes can increase the risk of fractures.
This study adds to the growing list of potential benefits of GLP-1 RAs. Originally developed for blood sugar control, these medications may also help with weight, heart health, and now possibly bone strength.
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