Effect of Diabetic Medications on Bone Metabolism

The prevalence rate of diabetes among veterans is 16% in general and 27% at out medical center compared to 6.3% among United States population. Subjects with diabetes and prediabetes said to have increased bone loss compared to the general population. Pioglitazone, a thiazolidinedione, is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved oral anti-diabetic agent for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Most of the pleiotropic effects of teh thiazolidinediones are beneficial in atherosclerosis and cancer, in addition to improving insulin resistance. Data from studies in mice show that rosiglitazone and pioglitazone therapy results in a significant decrease in total body bone mineral density was observed. Whether it is true in humans is not clear. There are no prospective studies to date. Subjects with diabetes are already at an increased risk for femoral fractures. If the animal data can be can be extrapolated to humans, thiazolidinedione pioglitazone may result in significant risk of adverse skeletal effects. This study hypothesizes that treatment with the thiazolidinedione pioglitazone may result in a significant reduction in bone mineral density. The aims of the study include: 1. To prospectively evaluate the effect of pioglitazone on skeletal health, we will study 140 subjects with diabetes receiving pioglitazone as part of their diabetes management and compare them with 140 diabetic controls (matched for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), smoking and alcohol history), not treated with pioglitazone. 2. To measure the bone mineral density by DXA at AP spine and hip, as well as bone turnover markers-procollagen type 1C-terminal propeptide (P1CP), and procollagen type 1N-terminal propeptide (P1NP), bone specific alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, plasma C-telopeptide (CTx) and N-telopeptide (NTx) at baseline, six and 12 months of follow-up. 3. To determine the change in BMD and bone turnover markers within each group from baseline to follow-up at six and 12 months. 4. To compare the changes in the BMD and bone turnover markers between groups at baseline and follow-up at six and 12 months.

Subjects: Prospectively study 140 subjects with type 2 diabetes and on pioglitazone, age, and sex matched controls.

Sample Size: The sample size is based on the primary objective of comparing the levels bone turnover markers and bone mineral density changes in diabetes with or without avandia.

Number of visits: 140 subjects with diabetes and on pioglitazone and 140 subjects with diabetes not on pioglitazone

1. Subjects will be studies at three visits.
2. The procedures to be done include assessment of bone mineral density measurement by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), measurement of bone turnover markers like serum osteocalcin and urinary N-telopeptide after the informed consent. About 15ml (one tablespoonful) of blood will be drawn at each visit for the study.
3. All the baseline measurements will be repeated at 6 months and at one year.
4. Statistical analysis of the data will be done to compare the changes in bone turnover markers and bone mineral density between the two groups.

Site of the study: Overton Brooks VAMC Diabetics clinic and Primary care clinics.

If our hypothesis is proven correct, subjects with diabetes requiring thiazolidinediones should have bone turnover markers and BMD measurement at baseline and have serial follow up. Identification of subjects at high risk will allow health care providers to initiate necessary protective measures to protect the bone to decrease the fracture risk.

Potential Impact on Veterans Health Care: Identification of subjects at high risk will allow health care providers to initiate necessary preventive measures to protect the bone and decrease the risk of fractures, or avoid the use of TZDs altogether in select patients. Since the prevalence of diabetes is very high among veterans, evaluation of a possible risk of skeletal health with the use of pioglitazone is highly relevant to VA health care.