Incretin Based Therapies: Bone Protective Effects

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2D) and osteoporosis have been found recently to be tightly correlated. In fact, T2D can result in bone loss through different mechanisms resulting in alteration of bone matrix and inhibition of bone formation. Fracture risk also increases significantly. New antidiabetic agents, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors and glucagon like peptide -1 agonists have shown promise in many fields beyond glycemic control. Benefits on the skeletal system are multiple through direct stimulation of osteoblasts, inhibition of advanced glycation end products and inhibition of bone resorption. However, clinical evidence in humans is still not enough to allow definitive conclusions.