Effects of pioglitazone on the osteoprotegrin and bone mineral density in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objective To investigate the effects of pioglitazone on the osteoprotegrin(OPG) and bone mineral density(BMD) in the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods Fifty-seven patients with T2DM were randomly divided into control group(24 cases) and experimental group(33 cases),with thirty people as normal control group.In addition to the basement therapy of blood sugar control,the experimental group received pioglitazone(30 mg/day) for three months.BMD and OPG levels were measured and compared between before and after treatment.Results ① OPG level of T2DM was higher than that of normal control(P0.05).② OPG level of T2DM after pioglitazone treatment increased,but there was no significant difference(P0.05).③ Hip and lumbar spine BMD of T2DM experimental group decreased after pioglitazone treatment.Conclusions Adverse effects of pioglitazone on bone metabolism might surpass the favorable factors.