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New research from Johns Hopkins Medicine suggests that a popular thyroid drug, Levothyroxine, may raise the risk of bone loss in older adults.
Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, is treated with levothyroxine, which is marketed under brand names including Synthroid. In the United States, it is the second most often prescribed drug for senior citizens. Approximately 23 million Americans, or 7% of the population, are prescribed this medication.
The preliminary study found that levothyroxine users experienced greater bone mass and density loss over a six-year period than non-users, even when their thyroid function tested in the normal range.
The study included 445 participants, primarily in their early 70s, 81 who took levothyroxine and 364 who did not use the medication.
"Our study suggests that even when following current guidelines, levothyroxine use appears to be associated with greater bone loss in older adults," said Dr. Shadpour Demehri, professor of radiology at Johns Hopkins Medicine and co-senior study author.
The makers of Synthroid acknowledge that taking too much levothyroxine can lead to increased bone loss, particularly among postmenopausal women.
Hypothyroidism, characterized by an underactive thyroid gland, affects approximately 30 million Americans. If left untreated, it can cause potentially fatal complications. The symptoms include fatigue, weight gain, and hair loss. Levothyroxine works by replacing or supplementing the thyroid hormone that the body naturally produces.
Dr. Elena Ghotbi, lead study author and postdoctoral research fellow at Johns Hopkins, noted concerns about current prescribing patterns.
"Data indicates that a significant proportion of thyroid hormone prescriptions may be given to older adults without hypothyroidism, raising concerns about subsequent relative excess of thyroid hormone even when treatment is targeted to reference range goals," Dr. Ghotbi said.
Osteoporosis, which involves loss of bone mineral density and bone mass, affects an estimated 10 million Americans age 50 and older.
The researchers plan to present their findings at the upcoming annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.
