GLP-1 Drugs May Lower Fracture Risk in Type 2 Diabetes Patients, UCLA Study Finds
A UCLA Health study published in JAMA Network Open found that adults aged 50 to 90 with type 2 diabetes who used GLP-1 receptor agonists had a 21 percent lower risk of fragility fractures compared to those using DPP-4 inhibitors. The protective effect was strongest for hip, femur, and spine fractures. A separate Israeli study found an 11 percent increased fracture risk, highlighting conflicting evidence.
A study from UCLA Health published in JAMA Network Open found that GLP-1 receptor agonists, the class of drugs that includes Ozempic and Mounjaro, were associated with a 21 percent lower risk of fragility fractures in adults aged 50 to 90 with type 2 diabetes.
Researchers analyzed electronic health records of approximately 134,000 U.S. adults with type 2 diabetes over a three-year period. They compared new users of GLP-1 receptor agonists to new users of DPP-4 inhibitors. The protective association was strongest for high-morbidity fractures, including those of the hip, femur, and spine.
The study found the association held even after accounting for changes in body mass index and blood sugar levels, suggesting the drugs may have direct effects on bone health.
However, the findings conflict with a separate study published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism in June 2026. That study, which used data from Israel's Clalit Health Services and included 46,177 participants aged 65 and older, found an 11 percent increased risk of fragility fractures among GLP-1 receptor agonist users compared to those using SGLT-2 or DPP-4 inhibitors.
Researchers from both studies said the conflicting results reflect the complexity of evaluating bone health in people with type 2 diabetes. Both studies were retrospective and observational, meaning they cannot establish direct causation.
The American Diabetes Association has historically classified GLP-1 receptor agonists as having neutral effects on bone. Experts say further prospective research is needed to clarify the long-term impact on fracture risk.
