Epoch HealthCommonly Prescribed Medication for Older Adults Linked to Bone Loss, Study Finds

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A new Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine study reveals significant associations between levothyroxine use and accelerated bone loss in older adults, even among those with normal thyroid function. The research, to be presented at the Radiological Society of North America’s annual meeting, analyzed data from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging cohort, focusing on adults aged 65 and older over a median follow-up period of 6.3 years.

Key Points:

• The study examined 81 euthyroid levothyroxine users against 364 non-users (median age 73), with all participants showing initial median thyroid-stimulating hormone levels of 2.35
• Levothyroxine, currently prescribed to approximately 23 million Americans (7% of the U.S. population), ranks as the second-most prescribed medication for older adults
• Researchers documented increased loss of total body bone mass and bone density among levothyroxine users compared to non-users, even when TSH levels remained within normal ranges
• The findings persisted after controlling for multiple variables including age, gender, height, weight, race, concurrent medications, and history of alcohol use and smoking
• Study authors identified concerns about potential overprescription of thyroid hormone treatments in older adults without confirmed hypothyroidism, even when treatment targets reference range goals

“Our study suggests that even when following current guidelines, levothyroxine use appears to be associated with greater bone loss in older adults”
– Shadpour Demehri, MD, Professor of Radiology at Johns Hopkins

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