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Diabetes medications may lead to increased risk of bone fracture in women

Updated: 2010-02-15 18:23:26 CST Category: Diabetes

by Alex Schoenfeld

Women with type 2 diabetes who take certain medications to treat insulin resistance may be at an increased risk of developing bone fractures, a new study has found.

Researchers from the Center for Health Services Research at Henry Ford Hospital studied more than 4,500 patients who filled at least one diabetes-related prescription between 2000 and 2007. The team found that female patients taking diabetes drugs known as thiazolidinediones, which include Avandia and Actos, were 50 percent more likely to suffer a bone fracture than were respondents who did not take any medications.

Moreover, the researchers found that women who were 65 years of age or older were 70 percent more likely to develop bone fractures.

"Older women are already at a higher risk of osteoporosis and osteoporosis-related fractures, which might explain why they appeared to be the most affected," said senior author L. Keoki Williams.

Meanwhile, the researchers discovered that men who took the medications, regardless of age, were not at an increased risk of bone fracture. Co-author Zeina Habib noted that there were an equal number of men and women in the study.

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