(NewsNation) — A popular thyroid drug could be associated with bone loss according to a new study from the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
Levothyroxine, commercially known as Synthroid among other names, is commonly used to treat an underactive thyroid also known as hypothyroidism.
Approximately 27 million people, 7% of the U.S. population, use the drug daily.
The research revealed a loss in total bone mass and density decreased for those using levothyroxine over a median flow-up of 6.3 years. Those surveyed were 81 users of the drug and 364 people not using it, most of whom were in their 70s.
“Our study suggests that even when following current guidelines, levothyroxine use appears to be associated with greater bone loss in older adults,” Shadpour Demehri, M.D., study co-senior author said in the press release.
Psychician Dr. Yalda Safai joined “Morning in America” to discuss the study, arguing it had several limitations.
“For a study to have strength, you need it to be done on thousands and thousands of people,” Safai said.
“This study showed that there’s a correlation between this medication and bone less, but it doesn’t prove causation. Because the disease in itself can also cause bone loss,” she added. “So there’s much more research that needs to be done on this medication before we change our prescribing habits.”