Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Preclinical, clinical, and population-based studies have provided evidence that anti-diabetic drugs affect bone metabolism and may affect the risk of fracture in diabetic patients.
AREAS COVERED
An overview of the skeletal effects of anti-diabetic drugs used in type 2 diabetes is provided. Searches on AdisInsight, PubMed, and Medline databases were conducted up to 1st July 2020. The latest evidence from randomized clinical trials and population-based studies on the skeletal safety of the most recent drugs (DPP-4i, GLP-1RA, and SGLT-2i) is provided.
EXPERT OPINION
Diabetic patients present with a higher risk of fracture for a given bone mineral density suggesting a role of bone quality in the etiology of diabetic fracture. Bone quality is difficult to assess in human clinical practice and the use of preclinical models provides valuable information on diabetic bone alterations. As several links have been established between bone and energy homeostasis, it is interesting to study the safety of anti-diabetic drugs on the skeleton. So far, evidence for the newest molecules suggests a neutral fracture risk, but further studies, especially in different types of patient populations (patients at risk or with history of cardiovascular disease, renal impairment, neuropathy) are required to fully appreciate this matter.
Collapse