“Ozembek” Destroys bonesScientists warned. New research shows that GLP-1-based medications increase the risk of osteoporosis, gout and osteomalacia. How Ozempic affects bone strength and what should be done to compensate for the serious effects, discuss Vechernaya Moskva with an expert.
How are ossicles and bones related?
Candidate of Medical Sciences Daria Rusakova said that when taking drugs based on semaglutide, there is a possible risk of developing diseases of the skeletal system, such as:
- Osteoporosis.
- Osteomalacia.
- Gout
“But we cannot say with certainty that the drug alone is to blame. As a rule, people who are prescribed GLP-1-based drugs are already at greater risk of developing skeletal diseases due to diabetes, obesity and metabolic disorders. In addition, with age, the strength of bone tissue decreases on its own.”
When Ozempic or any other drug from this group is prescribed, gout may appear only temporarily, as noted by the VM interlocutor.
— This disease is associated with the accumulation of large amounts of uric acid in the body and can occur in the event of sudden weight loss. And not only among those who lose weight with the help of medications, but also among those who severely restrict themselves in certain foods, adhere to mono-diets and significantly reduce their daily calorie consumption. But, as a rule, when body weight is normalized, uric acid in the body returns to normal, and the person feels better, the doctor said.
In turn, nutritionist and candidate of medical sciences Elena Solomatina said that the main mechanism of action of any drug based on semaglutide (including Ozempic) is to reduce appetite. A person begins to eat smaller quantities, and thus the amount of nutrients decreases, and the weight disappears quickly.
— When a person tries to lose weight with the help of such medications, he replaces many foods with low-fat ones, where the calcium content is much lower. His diet becomes less carbohydrates, fats and proteins. With this sudden weight loss, the likelihood of developing gallstones increases, which interferes with bile metabolism. The doctor explained that all this affects the condition and strength of the bones.
She added that drugs containing semaglutide stimulate the active production of stem cells, the number of which is especially important in old age.
Stem cells are a reserve source of building materials in the body to compensate for any deficiency. If a person begins to waste this reserve too early, their number decreases sharply, and the body begins to age faster. When a person in old age really needs resources to strengthen the bone system, there will be nowhere to get them, says Solomatina.
The doctor added that she also pointed out that with diabetes or obesity, calcium is washed out of the body faster, which also negatively affects the condition of the bones.
Insufficient insulin and high blood sugar levels lead to calcium being excreted in the urine in large quantities. Kidney performance decreases, which also affects mineral metabolism. The specialist said that the volume of fatty tissue in the bone marrow also increases, which ultimately leads to a deterioration in bone quality and strength.
What to do to reduce the negative impact
Before using semaglutide-based medications, nutritionist Rusakova recommends that people:
- Undergo a comprehensive examination of the whole body, including evaluation of bone density and the amount of minerals in the body;
- Commitment to a balanced diet so that the body obtains the necessary macro and micro nutrients;
- Consult your doctor about the necessity of taking nutritional supplements or functional foods.
In turn, nutritionist Solomatina said that the harms of GLP-1-based medications can be reduced by using:
- The right lifestyle
- Increase physical activity.
- Maintaining mineral balance in the body.
- Add berries, fruits, green vegetables and juices to your diet.
“But it is very important to start a course of these drugs on the doctor’s recommendation and strictly under his supervision. Since only the doctor can evaluate the optimal dosing regimen and duration of the course and adjust treatment in case of side effects,” the specialist explained.
With the help of Ozempic’s counterpart, Russian theater and film actress Svetlana Permyakova has become noticeably prettier recently. The actress, who lost 22 kilograms of weight, did not hide that the medicine helped her quickly regain her fitness. Moscow evening tells more about the dangers of rapid weight loss with the help of drugs based on GLP-1.