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Study finds anti-obesity and anti-diabetic hormone causes significant bone loss
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Researchers have discovered an anti-obesity and anti-diabetic endocrine hormone currently being tested on rats causes significant bone loss, calling into question whether it is safe for humans, according to a recent study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
FGF21 is a protein that stimulates fat cells but also blocks bone growth, according to the abstract. When researchers injected the hormone, called fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), into the rats, they discovered a “striking decrease in bone mass,” over a 2 week period that caused the animals to lose 78% of their spongy bone.
“This hormone is a very potent regulator of bone mass,” Yihong Wan, assistant professor of pharmacology and senior author, stated in a press release. “When we oversupply FGF21 in mice, it results in substantial bone loss.”
While the benefits of FGF21 as a potential anti-obesity and anti-diabetic drug is clear, the authors stated a balance between the benefits and risks of bone loss must be struck in order to prevent deleterious side effects.
Reference:
- Wei W, Dutchak PA, Wang X, et al. Fibroblast growth factor 21 promotes bone loss by potentiating the effects of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. Published online before print Feb. 6, 2012. doi:10.1073/pnas.1200797109.
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