Revolutionary drugs with question marks: In recent years, drugs from the GLP 1 family have become one of the biggest breakthroughs in the medical world, especially in the treatment of obesity and diabetes. Drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy and others have helped millions of people lose significant weight and improve various health indicators.
But alongside the impressive success, new studies are beginning to examine the long-term effects of the treatment as well, raising questions about possible risks that are not always at the center of public discourse.
What the new study found
A study presented at the annual conference of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons examined medical data from tens of thousands of patients. The researchers compared people treated with GLP 1 family drugs to a similar group that did not receive the treatment.
Each of the groups included approximately 74 thousand participants, and the researchers carefully matched them according to age, gender, body mass index, diabetes status and smoking habits.After a five-year follow-up, it was found that among users of the drugs there was a certain increase in the incidence of conditions such as osteoporosis, gout and osteomalacia, a condition of bone weakness.
A small but significant increase
Although the findings were statistically significant, it is important to understand that this is a relatively small increase in overall risk.
For example, about 4.1 percent of patients treated with the drugs developed osteoporosis compared to about 3.2 percent in the control group. This is a gap of less than one percent.
A moderate increase was also recorded in gout, with 7.4 percent among users compared to 6.6 percent among those who did not take the drugs.
The implication is that for most patients the overall risk remains relatively low, but it may be worth considering as part of the broader picture.
Why does this happen?
One of the main hypotheses is that the rapid weight loss characteristic of the use of these drugs also affects muscle and bone mass.
When the body loses weight quickly, it may also lose muscle mass, which can affect bone strength and the ability to maintain proper bone density.
In addition, people taking the drugs tend to eat less overall, which may lead to lower intake of protein and vitamin D, two important components for bone health.
And what about gout?
Gout is a disease related to high levels of uric acid in the blood. Interestingly, excess weight itself is considered a risk factor for the disease, but rapid weight loss can also trigger attacks.
The reason is that sharp changes in weight can affect uric acid levels in the body and cause instability.
Therefore, precisely during a period of rapid weight loss, monitoring and adjustment of treatment are needed to reduce the risk.
Experts call for caution
Despite the findings, experts emphasize that they should be interpreted with caution. The study was presented as an abstract at a scientific conference and has not yet undergone peer review or been published in a medical journal.
In addition, there are important details that were not available for analysis, such as the types of other treatments received by participants or additional risk factors.
According to researchers in the field, without full information about the control group and additional variables, it is difficult to draw definitive conclusions.
How do you reduce risk?
The encouraging news is that there are ways to reduce the possible risk. A combination of physical activity, especially strength training, can help maintain muscle and bone mass during weight loss.
In addition, it is important to maintain a balanced diet including sufficient protein and vitamin D, and to carry out medical monitoring throughout the treatment.
In the field of gout as well, treatment adjustment and careful monitoring can help prevent flare-ups.
In summary, drugs from the GLP 1 family continue to be an important and significant tool in the treatment of obesity and diabetes, but like any medical treatment, they may also have additional effects that are important to be aware of. The new study does not change the overall picture, but adds another layer to the understanding of the possible effects of the treatment. For patients, the main message is not to panic, but to be aware, consult a doctor and manage the treatment in a thoughtful and controlled manner.
Source:
www.jpost.com
