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Effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors on bone metabolism in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BMC Endocrine Disorders volume 24, Article number: 52 (2024) Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are widely used in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) therapy. The impact of SGLT2 inhibitors on bone metabolism has been widely taken into consideration. But there are controversial results in the study on the effect of SGLT2 inhibitors on bone metabolism in patients with T2DM. Therefore, we aimed to examine whether and to what extent SGLT2 inhibitors affect bone metabolism in patients with T2DM.

Methods

A literature search of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted through PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane databases, and Scopus from inception until 15 April 2023. Eligible RCTs compared the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors versus placebo on bone mineral density and bone metabolism in patients with T2DM. To evaluate the differences between groups, a meta-analysis was conducted using the random effects inverse-variance model by utilizing standardized mean differences (SMD).

Results

Through screening, 25 articles were finally included, covering 22,828 patients. The results showed that, compared with placebo, SGLT2 inhibitors significantly increased parathyroid hormone (PTH, SMD = 0.13; 95%CI: 0.06, 0.20), and cross-linked C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen (CTX, SMD = 0.11; 95%CI: 0.01, 0.21) in patients with T2DM, decreased serum alkaline phosphatase levels (ALP, SMD = -0.06; 95%CI: -0.10, -0.03), and had no significant effect on bone mineral density (BMD), procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP), 25-hydroxy vitamin D, tartrate resistant acid phosphatase-5b (TRACP-5b) and osteocalcin.

Conclusions

SGLT2 inhibitors may negatively affect bone metabolism by increasing serum PTH, CTX, and decreasing serum ALP. This conclusion needs to be verified by more studies due to the limited number and quality of included studies.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO, identifier CRD42023410701

Peer Review reports

Research in context

SGLT2 inhibitors have been widely used in clinical practice for their good cardiorenal protective and hypoglycemic effects. However, their effects on bones are still controversial. The drug has been shown to have a potential adverse effect on bone in multiple animal experiments. However, in the latest meta-analysis, it was not found that the risk of fracture increased in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) treated with SGLT2 inhibitors.

Can SGLT2 inhibitors affect bone mineral density and bone metabolism in patients with T2DM?

We found that SGLT2 inhibitors may have a negative effect on bone in patients with T2DM.

When T2DM is treated in clinical work, doctors will pay more attention to the monitoring of bone safety. And we provided a reference for the use of SGLT2 inhibitors.

Introduction

It is well known that type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by persistently elevated blood glucose or elevated postprandial blood glucose containing carbohydrates [1]. As a chronic non-communicable disease, its prevalence is increasing worldwide, especially related to the gradual entry of people into an aging society, high calorie intake, and a sedentary lifestyle [2]. Recent studies have shown that in addition to the cardiovascular, ocular, renal and neurological complications of the disease in patients, bone strength is also impaired and leads to an increased risk of fractures [3]. The presence of T2DM is associated with a prevalent metabolic disorder that has detrimental effects on bone metabolism, leading to an increased susceptibility to fractures [4, 5]. Among the various types of osteoporotic fractures, individuals with T2DM face a heightened risk for hip fractures, which are considered the most severe, as well as limb fractures such as those occurring in the leg or ankle [6].

The anti-diabetic drugs currently applied clinically have certain effects on the bone metabolism of patients [7]. Sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor is one of the new hypoglycemic drugs. It can reduce glucose re-absorption by inhibiting SGLT2 in proximal tubules of the kidney, thus promoting urine glucose excretion and reducing blood glucose [8]. In recent years, studies on the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on bone metabolism have been continuously released, and the existing relationship between the two is still controversial. Theoretically, SGLT2 inhibitors increase renal tubular reabsorption of phosphate and serum parathyroid hormone concentration [9].

Considering the significant economic and social burden caused by bone health issues and associated fracture risks, it is imperative to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of SGLT2 inhibitors on fractures and bone metabolism. In view of the fact that there are still controversial results in the study on the effect of SGLT2 inhibitors on bone metabolism in patients with T2DM, we conducted a systematic and comprehensive analysis of the existing research results in order to provide reference for the selection of SGLT2 inhibitors in the treatment of T2DM in clinical work.

Methods

Protocol and registration

The protocol of this systematic review and meta-analysis has been registered in PROSPERO (registration no. CRD42023410701).

Eligibility criteria

We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the efficacy of SGLT2 inhibitors versus placebo, in English only. Eligible participants were adults with T2DM, regardless of background hypoglycemic therapy. Interventions should last for at least 12 weeks and the outcomes should include at least one of bone mineral density or bone metabolism.

Search strategy

We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane databases, and Scopus on 15 April 2023 for English-language studies. Detailed information about our search strategy was presented in the electronic supplementary material (Table S1). To avoid omitting any eligible studies, any terms related to “SGLT2 inhibitor” were searched.

Selection process

All search results were downloaded into EndNote (version X9, Thomson Reuters, Philadelphia, PA, USA) to eliminate duplication. Two reviewers independently performed a preliminary screening of the title and abstract. Remaining articles were read through the full text to determine inclusion, and the reasons for excluded articles were recorded. Any disagreements were resolved by a third reviewer. Articles that could not get the required data were also excluded. Articles for which the required data were not available after contacting the corresponding author were also excluded.

Data collection and risk of bias assessment

Data extraction was done by two independent reviewers and arbitrated by a third reviewer. The relevant information extracted from the included articles mainly included: (1) Basic information: first author, publication year, sample size, and the number of experimental and control groups. (2) Characteristics of research subjects: gender, age, glycated hemoglobin, BMI, SGLT2 inhibitor type and dose, and duration of treatment; (3) Outcomes: Mean ± standard deviation (SD) of post-treatment relative baseline changes in bone mineral density (BMD) and bone metabolism-related indicators including parathyroid hormone (PTH), cross-linked C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen (CTX), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), 25-hydroxy vitamin D, procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP), osteocalcin, and Tartrate resistant acid phosphatase-5b (TRACP-5b); (4) Relevant information described in the literature that can be used to assess the risk of bias.

The risk of bias will be assessed by two authors independently using the RoB2 tool for the included RCTs [10]. Using the RoB2 tool, we will assess domains such as randomization process, assignment and adhering to intervention, missing data and measurement of outcome, and finally categorize the studies as having a low, some concern, or high risk of bias.

Statistical analysis

We will pool the results using a random-effects meta-analysis, using standard mean difference (SMD) for continuous outcomes, and calculate 95% confidence interval (CI). A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The Chi-square test combined with I-value analysis was used to judge the heterogeneity among the articles. When the heterogeneity of the studies in each group was relatively large (P < 0.05, I2 ≥ 50%), the source of heterogeneity needed to be clarified. Subsequent subgroup analysis or sensitivity analysis was conducted to explain the reasons for heterogeneity. Egger’s tests were performed to assess publication bias. R (version 4.2.3) and the statistical package ‘meta’ were used for analysis.

Results

Search results

According to the established retrieval strategy, we screened a total of 8554 studies from 5 databases. After a series of screenings, 25 studies ultimately met the eligibility criteria, totaling 22,828 unique participants. Twenty-three studies included in the analysis were RCTs [11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33], and two studies were for RCTs Pooled analysis [34, 35] (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1
figure 1

Flow diagram of the identification of eligible trials

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Study characteristics

The study characteristics were summarized in Table 1. A total of 22,828 participants from 25 RCTs were randomly assigned to one of five SGLT2 inhibitors (canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, empagliflozin, ipragliflozin, and ertugliflozin) or placebo. Sample sizes for individual trials ranged from 40 to 12,620 participants, and the average trial duration was 55 weeks (range 12–104 weeks).

Table 1 Characteristics of included studies
Full size table

The risk of bias in the 25 RCTs is summarized in Fig. 2. Most of the trials included in the meta-analysis were judged to have a low risk of bias.

Fig. 2
figure 2

Risk of bias assessments of included studies

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Meta-analysis results

Bone mineral density

A total of 3 studies [11, 24, 26] reported the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on BMD in patients with T2DM. The results of the overall and subgroup meta-analysis are presented in Fig. 3. There was no significant difference in BMD after treatment between the SGLT2 inhibitor group and the placebo group (SMD = -0.02; 95%CI: -0.09, 0.05). In subgroup analyses of bone sites, there was also no significant change in BMD in the two groups (lumbar spine, SMD = − 0.02, 95%CI: −0.13, 0.10; femoral neck, SMD = 0.05, 95%CI: −0.11, 0.22; total hip, SMD = -0.08, 95%CI: −0.27, 0.12; and distal forearm, SMD = − 0.06, 95%CI: −0.18, 0.06). No evidence of publication bias was observed (Table S2).

Fig. 3
figure 3

Meta-analysis of the effect of Sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors on BMD compared with placebo. BMD, bone mineral density

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Bone metabolism

13 studies [11,12,13,14,15,16, 19, 23, 24, 28, 31, 32, 35] reported PTH levels after SGLT2 inhibitor treatment (Fig. 4). 7 papers compared CTX [11, 19, 23, 24, 26, 28, 32] and 25-hydroxy vitamin D [11, 14, 15, 23, 31, 32, 35] levels after treatment (Fig. 5A-B). 15 papers [11, 15, 16, 18, 20,21,22, 25, 27, 29, 30, 34, 35] reported ALP levels after treatment (Fig. 6). 3 papers compared P1NP [11, 14, 24] and osteocalcin [14, 26, 32] levels after treatment (Fig. 7A-B). 2 papers [23, 28] reported TRACP-5b levels after treatment (Fig. 7C). Except for osteocalcin (P = 0.02, I2 = 75%), no significant heterogeneity was observed. Meta results showed that, compared with placebo, SGLT2 inhibitors significantly increased PTH levels (SMD = 0.13; 95%CI: 0.06, 0.20) and CTX levels (SMD = 0.11; 95%CI: 0.01, 0.21), while significantly decreased ALP levels (SMD = -0.06; 95%CI: -0.10, -0.03). However, there was no significant difference in 25-hydroxy vitamin D (SMD = 0.09; 95%CI: 0.00, 0.18), P1NP (SMD = 0.13; 95%CI: -0.02, 0.28), osteocalcin (SMD = 0.19; 95%CI: -0.16, 0.54), and TRACP-5b (SMD = 0.05; 95%CI: -0.17, 0.28) after treatment between the SGLT2 inhibitor group and the placebo group.

Fig. 4
figure 4

Meta-analysis of the effect of Sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors on PTH compared with placebo. PTH, parathyroid hormone

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Fig. 5
figure 5

Meta-analysis of the effect of Sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors on CTX (A) and 25-hydroxy vitamin D (B) compared with placebo. CTX, Cross-linked C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen

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Fig. 6
figure 6

Meta-analysis of the effect of Sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors on ALP compared with placebo. ALP, Alkaline phosphatase

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Fig. 7
figure 7

Meta-analysis of the effect of Sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors on P1NP (A), osteocalcin (B) and TRACP-5b (C) compared with placebo. P1NP, Procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide; TRACP-5b, Tartrate resistant acid phosphatase-5b

Full size image

In addition, no evidence of publication bias was observed for any of the above outcomes (Table S2).

Discussion

The combined detection of BMD and bone turnover markers can be used to evaluate bone metabolism in patients. However, the changes of bone turnover markers are more sensitive [36]. In this study, after a comprehensive literature search and analysis, 25 studies were finally included for meta-analysis. Our results suggested that SGLT2 inhibitors had no significant effect on BMD in patients with T2DM compared to placebo. However, due to the short follow-up period and limited number of the RCTs included in the studies, more long-term studies are needed to accurately determine the impact of SGLT2 inhibitors on BMD.

In terms of bone metabolism, we observed that SGLT2 inhibitors significantly increased serum PTH and CTX levels and decreased serum ALP levels in patients with T2DM. This presents a seemingly paradoxical situation, as it is traditionally understood that elevated levels of PTH normally stimulate bone formation, which in turn increases levels of ALP, the active marker of bone formation [37]. This reflects the discrepancy between increased PTH levels and decreased ALP levels in patients using SGLT2 inhibitors underscores the complexity of the drugs’ impact on bone metabolism. It suggests a multifactorial influence involving immediate metabolic changes, differential effects on bone remodeling phases, the intricate role of RAAS activation, and the body’s broader compensatory responses [38]. In addition, no statistically significant effect of SGLT2 inhibitors on P1NP, TRACP-5b, 25-hydroxy vitamin D, and osteocalcin was observed in this study. However, although CTX and ALP levels change significantly in the meta-analysis, no single report shows a significant increase in CTX and only one study found a significant reduction of ALP. The reason for these phenomena can be attributed to the short duration of the study. The studies included this time are up to just over 3 months (104 days). Current research suggests that short-term studies (3 months) may not sufficiently capture significant changes in bone metabolism markers due to the physiological lag between alterations in glucose metabolism and their impact on bone remodeling processes []. In contrast, studies extending beyond 6 to 12 months are considered more likely to demonstrate meaningful changes in these markers [37, 39]. Further research, particularly studies with longer follow-up periods and detailed analyses of bone quality and turnover markers, is needed to fully elucidate these relationships.

The exact mechanism of the negative effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on bone health remains unknown. A study has shown that SGLT2 is not expressed in either the osteoblast lineage or the osteoclast lineage [40]. SGLT1 was detected in MC3T3-E1 differentiated osteoblasts, but its expression level was low. Therefore, the effects of these drugs on bone may be indirect [41]. SGLT2 inhibitors destroy serum calcium, phosphate, and vitamin D homeostasis [42]. As reabsorption of sodium in the proximal renal tubules decreases, the activity of sodium-phosphate co-transporters at the apical membrane increases. Serum phosphate levels further increase, inducing parathyroid cells and osteoblasts to secrete PTH and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23). PTH causes bone resorption. While FGF23 promotes urinary phosphate excretion, inhibition of 1-αhydroxylase causes a decrease in 1,25-dihydroxvitamin D levels [43]. The decrease in blood sodium concentration can also directly affect osteoclasts, leading to an increase in bone fragility [44]. In the opposite way, calcium is reabsorbed by sodium-calcium cotransporters. The inhibition of SGLT2 leads to increased excretion of urine glucose and urine calcium, and the decrease of serum calcium causes secondary hyperparathyroidism [9]. It has been verified that the main results in our study suggested SGLT2 inhibitors could significantly increase serum PTH. Unfortunately, there are no more clinical studies reporting the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on FGF23 in patients with T2DM.

SGLT2 inhibitors provide modest weight loss. A reduction in mechanical pressure on the bone tissue may decrease bone density and enhance bone turnover [45]. This may partly explain the reduction in total hip bone density in T2DM patients with canagliflozin. Weight loss also decreases aromatase activity, resulting in decreased estradiol levels that severely affect bone density and bone turnover [46, 47]. In addition to the indirect effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on bone metabolism, adverse events associated with these agents due to osmotic diuresis and volume consumption (orthostatic hypotension, postural dizziness, etc.) may increase the risk of falls and fractures [48].

There are some limitations to consider in this study. Most studies containing SGLT2 inhibitors focused on the cardiorenal effects. The main outcomes did not include bone health or relevant data were not shown. Therefore, some types of SGLT2 inhibitors received few articles and participants. Important confounding factors such as diet, exercise level, and solar radiation were not reported in some original studies and cannot be corrected. Since T2DM requires a combination of drugs in most cases, the background treatment for each patient cannot be unified, and there may be other drugs that also affect bones, leading to error in the results.

Conclusion

Although further studies are needed, the results of our study have demonstrated the possible negative effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on bone health in patients with T2DM. However, there is still a lack of human studies regarding the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on bone microarchitectural changes in patients with T2DM. Further preclinical or clinical data are needed to elucidate the effects on bone matrix mineralization and collagen fiber distribution. SGLT2 inhibitors have a good hypoglycemic effect and cardiorenal protection, but they may have a secondary effect on bone turnover. The long-term safety of this effect on bones deserves continued monitoring as the use of this drug becomes more routine in patients with T2DM.

Data availability

Datasets used in this article are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Abbreviations

ALP:

Alkaline phosphatase

BMD:

Bone mineral density

CTX:

Cross-linked C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen

FGF23:

Fibroblast growth factor 23

P1NP:

Procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide

PTH:

Parathyroid hormone

RCTs:

Randomized controlled trials

SGLT2:

Sodium–glucose cotransporter 2

SMD:

Standard mean difference

TRACP-5b:

Tartrate resistant acid phosphatase-5b

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Acknowledgements

Not applicable.

Funding

This study was supported by Key Science and technology project in Ningxia (2020BFG02011); Key Science and technology project in Ningxia (2023BEG02022); Ningxia natural science foundation (2023AAC03614) and Ningxia natural science foundation (2023AAC03597).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Office of Academic Research, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, 750004, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China

    Jing Wang

  2. Department of Nutrition, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, 750004, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China

    Xin Li

  3. First Clinical Medical College, Ningxia Medical University, 750004, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China

    Yang Li

  4. Department of Geriatrics and Special Needs, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, No. 804 South Shengli Street, 750004, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China

    Chen Lei

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  1. Jing Wang
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  2. Xin Li
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  3. Yang Li
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  4. Chen Lei
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Contributions

XL, CL and JH designed the study. XL and YL identified and acquired reports of trials and extracted data. HT, QD, WS, SZ, YS and JH performed all data analyses, checked for statistical inconsistency, and interpreted data. HT, QD, WS, SZ, YS and JH contributed to data interpretation. HT drafted the report and all other authors critically reviewed the report. All authors approved the final version of manuscript. JH is the guarantor of this work.

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Correspondence to Chen Lei.

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Wang, J., Li, X., Li, Y. et al. Effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors on bone metabolism in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Endocr Disord 24, 52 (2024). https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.1186/s12902-024-01575-8

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  • DOI: https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.1186/s12902-024-01575-8

Keywords

BMC Endocrine Disorders

ISSN: 1472-6823

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