Category: 8. Health

Children and adolescents with obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) could experience a greater risk of fractures and osteoporosis later in life, as both conditions are linked to an interference with bone development. The findings, which were presented at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting (ENDO 2025) in San Francisco, California, emphasized the importance of building lifelong bone strength during teen years to lessen the risk of bone-related complications.¹

“Obesity and early type 2 diabetes in adolescence don’t just affect weight or blood sugar—they can quietly interfere with bone development during the most critical years for building lifelong bone strength,” Fida Bacha, MD, lead researcher from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, said in a news release. “That means teens with these health issues may face a greater risk of fractures and osteoporosis as they get older.”¹

Signs and Symptoms of Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis causes bones to become so weak and brittle that small movements and even coughs can lead to a break. Although the condition typically does not show symptoms in its early stages, once the bones become weak, individuals may experience back pain, loss of height over time, a stooped posture, and a bone that breaks much more easily than expected.²

Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes

According to the CDC, around 1 in 5 children and adolescents ages 2 to 9 years that reside in the United States have obesity. For children, obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile for age and sex.³ Additionally, for children aged 5 years and under, overweight is defined as a weight-for-height measurement greater than 2 standard deviations above the WHO Child Growth Standards median. Obesity in this age group is when weight-for-height is greater than 3 standard deviations above the same median. For children and adolescents between 5 and 19 years old, overweight is defined by a BMI-for-age greater than 1 standard deviation above the WHO Growth Reference median, while obesity is greater than 2 standard deviations above this median.⁴

An increase in children with obesity has led to more cases of T2D in younger individuals. Although it is not widely known why some children develop type 2 diabetes and some do not, common risk factors that increase its development include weight, inactivity, and diet—which are all closely related to overweight and obesity. To aid prevention, health care providers urge guardians to ensure their youth are eating healthy foods and are physically active.⁵

“While adults with [T2D] are known to have increased risk of fractures, this has not been investigated in youth with type 2 diabetes,” Bacha said in the news release. “We wanted to understand how childhood obesity and early [T2D] affect bone health as children grow.”¹

Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Link With Bone Health

To further understand how obesity and T2D impact bone health in children and adolescents, researchers conducted a study that monitored 48 teenagers with an average age of 15.5 years. Of the total number of teens, 27% had normal weight, 31% were classified as overweight with normal blood sugar, and 42% had overweight and impaired blood sugar control, including 4 teens with prediabetes and 16 teens with T2D. The researchers measured body fat, fitness, blood sugar, and insulin levels for all teens included in the study. Additionally, they used high-resolution imaging to evaluate the teens’ bone structure and strength in the tibia and radius.¹

The results demonstrated that the teens with obesity showed less improvement in bone strength and quality over time compared with teens at a normal weight—and similar results were demonstrated among teens with T2D. These results were consistent in both the tibia and radius, as higher insulin levels seemed to contribute to less increase in bone strength.¹

The findings suggest teens with obesity and T2D could experience a greater risk of developing osteoporosis as they increase in age, emphasizing the importance of learning and continuing healthy habits and daily preventative steps to decrease their risk.¹

REFERENCES

1. Obesity and type 2 diabetes in teen years can impair bone health. EuerkAlert!. News release. July 14, 2025. Accessed July 15, 2025. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1090293

2. Osteoporosis. Mayo Clinic. News release. February 24, 2024. Accessed July 15, 2025. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/osteoporosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351968

3. Childhood Obesity Facts. CDC. News release. April 2, 2024. Accessed July 15, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood-obesity-facts/childhood-obesity-facts.html

4. Obesity and overweight. World Health Organization. May 7, 2025. Accessed July 15, 2025. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight

5. Type 2 Diabetes in Children. News release. November 18, 2023. Accessed July 15, 2025. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes-in-children/symptoms-causes/syc-20355318

Magnesium is an essential mineral that supports hundreds of functions in the body. From keeping your muscles and nerves working properly to regulating your heartbeat, magnesium does a lot behind the scenes. Research has linked higher magnesium intake with lower blood pressure, which helps protect your heart over time. This mineral also plays a role in maintaining healthy blood sugar levels and may help lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Plus, magnesium supports bone health by improving bone mineral density, which reduces the risk of fractures and osteoporosis as you age. Even though it’s so important, many people fall short of the recommended intake.

Adults generally need between 310 to 420 milligrams of magnesium per day, depending on age and sex. While magnesium supplements can be helpful in some cases, experts agree that most healthy people are better off getting magnesium from whole foods. “Magnesium from food sources is often more bioavailable, meaning it’s more readily absorbed into the bloodstream,” says Carrie Gabriel, M.S., RDN. Jessie Winstead, RD, LD, adds that “whole foods can provide more than just magnesium. They also come with fiber, protein and antioxidants that supplements can’t offer.”

Below are some of the best magnesium-rich foods you can enjoy, plus tips from dietitians for adding them to your meals.

1. Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds are one of the most magnesium-rich foods you can eat. Just 1 ounce of roasted pumpkin seeds provides 156 milligrams of magnesium, which is about 37% of your daily needs. These seeds are also packed with iron, zinc and healthy fats. “Pumpkin seeds are an easy way to boost magnesium intake,” says Chrissy Barth, M.S., RDN. “Sprinkle them on salads or grain bowls, or add them to homemade granola bars for crunch and nutrients.”

2. Chia Seeds

Chia seeds may be tiny, but they deliver big nutrition. One ounce of chia seeds contains 95 milligrams of magnesium. They also provide plant-based omega-3 fatty acids, fiber and protein. Winstead suggests stirring chia seeds into yogurt or oatmeal to create simple, fiber-rich breakfasts. “Easy ideas like sprinkling chia seeds on yogurt can make a real difference in your overall health,” she says.

3. Almonds

Almonds are a convenient way to increase your magnesium intake, especially when you need something quick. A 1-ounce serving of dry-roasted almonds offers 80 milligrams of magnesium, along with vitamin E, healthy fats and protein. Gabriel recommends pairing almonds with fruit or yogurt for a satisfying snack. “Sprinkle ¼ cup of slivered almonds and fresh berries on a cup of Greek yogurt,” she says.

4. Black Beans

Black beans are rich in magnesium and also provide plant-based protein and fiber, which can help keep you full and support digestive health. A half-cup of cooked black beans delivers 60 milligrams of magnesium. “Black beans are one of my favorite affordable, versatile sources of magnesium,” says Barth. “Try adding them to tacos or burrito bowls, or mash them into a dip for an easy snack.”

5. Spinach

Leafy greens like spinach are excellent sources of magnesium and many other nutrients. A half-cup of cooked spinach supplies 78 milligrams of magnesium. Spinach also offers iron, potassium and antioxidants that support overall health. Add spinach to omelets, soups, pasta or grain bowls. Sauté it with garlic and olive oil for a quick side dish, or blend fresh spinach into smoothies. Cooking spinach helps concentrate its magnesium content and makes it easier to fit more greens into your meals.

6. Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate is a delicious way to add more magnesium to your diet, suggests Gabrielle. One ounce of dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa content contains about 65 milligrams of magnesium. Along with magnesium, dark chocolate provides flavonoid antioxidants that support heart health. Enjoy a square or two as a sweet bite after meals, or melt it to drizzle over fresh berries. You can also chop dark chocolate into small pieces and add it to homemade energy bites or granola bars.

Our Expert Take

Magnesium plays a vital role in supporting your heart, bones and metabolism. Most people can meet their needs by including a variety of nutrient-rich foods like seeds, nuts, beans, greens and dark chocolate in their daily meals. Choosing whole foods that are rich in magnesium can also help you increase your intake of fiber, protein, healthy fats and antioxidants that promote overall well-being.

 

Co-author Daniel Colón-Ramos, the Dorys McConnell Duberg Professor of Neuroscience and Cell Biology at YSM, said the study supports the notion of glycogen as an “energy capacitor” in neurons. 

“Just like in muscles, this reserve can buffer rapid shifts in energy demand,” Colón-Ramos said. “That flexibility might be crucial for how the brain maintains function and responds to stress. This research reshapes our understanding of brain energy metabolism and opens new avenues for exploring how to protect and support neuronal function in disease.”

Other authors, all from Yale, include Sarah Emerson, a postdoctoral researcher in neuroscience; Ian J. Gonzalez, a graduate student in cell biology; Anjali A. Vishwanath and Anastasia Tsives, post-doctoral researchers in neuroscience; and Richard Goodman, a research scientist in neuroscience.

Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) exposure increases malformation risks among infants vs β-lactam antibiotic exposure, according to a recent study published in JAMA Network Open.¹

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) present in pregnant patients more often than any other infection, increasing the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes such as low birth weight, preterm birth, pyelonephritis, and maternal sepsis.² Therefore, antibiotic treatments such as TMP-SMX are often used in the first trimester of pregnancy, despite concerns about associated malformations.¹

“Evidence regarding antibiotic safety in pregnancy is needed to guide clinical practice,” wrote investigators. “We evaluated whether nitrofurantoin, TMP-SMX, or fluoroquinolones were associated with congenital malformations (any and by organ system) compared with other antibiotics commonly used to treat UTIs.”

Comparing antibiotic safety during pregnancy

Study participants included pregnant patients provided antibiotic therapy to manage UTI during the first trimester. Infants of these individuals were also included in the analysis.

Additional eligibility criteria included prescription drug coverage from 3 months before the last menstrual period to 1 month after pregnancy, first-trimester outpatient dispensing of an antibiotic against UTIs, and a UTI indication within 7 days of the index indication. Patients with more than 1 UTI-related antibiotic in the first trimester, a supply of index prescription lasting over 14 days, or infection-related hospitalization were excluded.

Oral antibiotic dispensings were identified from outpatient pharmacy claims. These included nitrofurantoin, TMP-SMX, fluoroquinolones, and β-lactams, with β-lactams used as a reference group.

Congenital malformations were reported as the primary outcome, identified using validated algorithms assessing inpatient and outpatient diagnosis codes. Codes for the first month were assessed for the birthing person vs up to 365 days after birth for the infant. Covariates included demographics, comorbidities, suspected teratogenic medications, and nonindex antibiotics.

Antibiotic usage and malformation rates

There were 71,604 pregnancies included in the final analysis. Of pregnant patients, 59.2% used nitrofurantoin in the first trimester, while 4.9% used TMP-SMX, 5.1% fluoroquinolones, and 30.8% β-lactams. Participants were aged a mean of 30 years, and 98.6% had a single pregnancy. Most patient characteristics were similar across agents.

Malformations were identified in 1518 infants, 729 of whom had cardiac malformations. Overall, an unadjusted absolute risk for any malformation of 19.8 per 1000 infants was reported for β-lactams, vs 21.2 per 1000 for nitrofurantoin, 23.5 per 1000 for fluoroquinolones, and 26.9 per 1000 for TMP-SMX.

Similar patterns were found for cardiac malformations. Overall, the weighted risk ratio (RR) for any malformation among infants exposed to TMP-SMX vs β-lactams was 1.35. One additional malformation was indicated for every 145 pregnancies exposed to TMP-SMX.

Nitrofurantoin-exposed infants had a similar risk of any malformation compared to β-lactam–exposed infants, with a weighted RR of 1.12. For fluoroquinolone-exposed infants, the weighted RR was 1.18.

Organ-specific risks and notable findings

TMP-SMX–exposed pregnancies had an RR of 1.45 for cardiac malformation compared to β-lactam–exposed pregnancies, indicating a similar risk. However, orofacial and respiratory malformations had increased risks on a relative scale, with an RR of 2.89.

When restricting analyses to specific malformation groups, increased risks of severe cardiac malformations, other cardiac malformations, and cleft lip and cleft palate were reported in infants exposed to TMP-SMX during pregnancy vs β-lactam. However, these risks were only observed on a relative scale and not an absolute scale.

These results indicated that the use of first-trimester TMP-SMX to treat UTIs increases the risk of any malformation, severe cardiac malformation, other cardiac malformation, and cleft lip and palate in infants vs β-lactam. However, the data indicated no increased risk for nitrofurantoin.

“Our results support the current ACOG recommendation for caution in using TMP-SMX during the first trimester but do not support current recommendations to limit nitrofurantoin use,” wrote investigators.

References

1. Osmundson SS, Nickel KB, Shortreed SM, et al. First-trimester antibiotic use for urinary tract infection and risk of congenital malformations. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(7):e2519544. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.19544
2. Kazemier BM, Koningstein FN, Schneeberger C, et al. Maternal and neonatal consequences of treated and untreated asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnancy: a prospective cohort study with an embedded randomised controlled trial.Lancet Infect Dis. 2015;15(11):1324-1333. doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(15)00070-5

July 14 (UPI) — Vaping might be more effective than traditional nicotine replacement therapies in helping people quit smoking, a new Australian study says.

Six-month smoking abstinence rates were three times higher among people using flavored nicotine-laced vape devices, compared to those given nicotine gum or lozenges, researchers reported Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Flavored vapes are restricted in the U.S.

“Vaporized nicotine products were more effective than nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation,” wrote the research team led by Ryan Courtney, an associate professor with the National Drug and Alcohol Research Center at the University of New South Wales in Australia.

For the study, researchers recruited more than 1,000 Australians receiving government assistance and randomly assigned them to vaping or nicotine replacement. All were interested in trying to quit smoking.

The vape group received an eight-week supply of vape juice in tobacco, menthol or fruit flavors, while the nicotine replacement group chose an eight-week supply of gum or lozenges.

All participants also received automated text messages for five weeks that provided behavioral support for their quit attempt, researchers said.

After six months, more than 28% of people in the vape group remained smoke-free, compared with a little under 10% of those in the nicotine gum or lozenge group, the study found.

“In the current trial among people experiencing social disadvantage, vaporized nicotine products with flavor choice had greater effectiveness compared with nicotine replacement therapy gum or lozenge when provided in combination with minimal text-message behavioral support,” researchers concluded.

However, researchers noted that further study is needed to make sure that people will remain smoke-free long-term while using a vape device.

It’s also unknown whether people are swapping one health risk for another, researchers added.

“Although current evidence suggests switching completely from cigarette smoking to (vaping) reduces health risks, the long-term health effects of vaping are largely unknown and data are emerging that demonstrate vaping can impact cardiovascular health,” researchers wrote.

The U.S. government has severely limited the number of flavored tobacco products that are legally available. Kid-friendly flavors like fruit, menthol and dessert, are sold illegally and have been fueling an explosion in retail sales of e-cigarettes, ABC News reported.

More information

Johns Hopkins has more on vaping.

Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

A nationwide cohort study of more than 1.2 million children in Denmark found no evidence that early childhood exposure to aluminum-adsorbed vaccines increases the risk for autoimmune, allergic, or neurodevelopmental disorders.

The findings, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, offer robust population-level evidence in the context of long-standing public concerns about aluminum adjuvants in childhood vaccines, study authors wrote.¹

“These findings should reassure clinicians and the public that aluminum adjuvants in childhood vaccines are not driving the chronic conditions some have feared,” lead author Anders Hviid, MSc, DMSc, professor and head of department at Statens Serum Institut in Copenhagen, and colleagues wrote. “Even in subgroup and sensitivity analyses—including extended follow-up to age 8—our conclusions remained unchanged.”¹

Of the risks for conditions investigated, Hviid et al reported adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) per 1-mg increase in cumulative aluminum exposure by age 2 years of:

• 0.98 (95% CI, 0.94 to 1.02) for autoimmune disorders
• 0.99 (CI, 0.98 to 1.01) for atopic or allergic disorders
• 0.93 (CI, 0.90 to 0.97) for neurodevelopmental disorders

For most outcomes analyzed individually, the researchers found that the upper bounds of the 95% confidence intervals ruled out relative risk increases greater than 10% or 30%, depending on outcome frequency.¹

Aluminum Adjuvants in History

Aluminum salts have been used for decades as adjuvants in nonlive vaccines, including those offered in early childhood, eg, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis, and pneumococcus.² While regarded as safe, these adjuvants have remained a focal point for vaccine skeptics, driven in part by animal studies suggesting possible neurotoxicity and autoimmune activation.^3,4 Human studies, however, have been limited in size or design, and there as been a dearth of large-scale epidemiologic data. The current study leveraged systematic changes in Denmark’s national vaccination program from 1997 to 2018, during which aluminum content in vaccines varied due to policy updates and product substitutions, creating a natural experiment across birth cohorts.¹

The researchers linked Danish national health and administrative registries to capture data on vaccination history, hospital and pharmacy records, and relevant sociodemographic and medical variables. Children were excluded from participants if they had congenital disorders, implausible vaccination patterns, or if data were missing. Children were followed from age 2 through 5 years for diagnoses of 50 chronic conditions, grouped into autoimmune, atopic/allergic, and neurodevelopmental categories. Exposure was defined as the cumulative aluminum received via vaccines before age 2, with values ranging from 0 to 4.5 mg (median 3.0 mg). Outcomes were identified via hospital encounters or prescription records.¹

FINDINGS

The analysis found no increased risk of any outcome associated with higher aluminum exposure. Among the most common conditions, hazard ratios were as follows:

• Asthma 0.96 (CI, 0.94 to 0.98) and atopic dermatitis 1.02 (CI, 1.00 to 1.04)
• Autism spectrum disorder 0.93 (CI, 0.89 to 0.97) and ADHD 0.90 (CI, 0.84 to 0.96).

In secondary analyses extending follow-up to age 8, estimates remained consistent, including HRs of 0.95 for autism spectrum disorder and 0.92 for ADHD.¹

Findings from subgroup analyses stratified by sex, birth cohort, and exposure category also showed no evidence of dose-response relationships or effect modification, according to the study. Results from additional sensitivity analyses that adjusted for early diagnosis bias, healthcare utilization, and potential exposure misclassification yielded results similar to the primary findings.

Among the study’s limitations Hviid et al acknowledged randomization was not used and that investigators relied on administrative records without clinical validation. They also cautioned that while the team used extensive confounder adjustment, they cannot rule out residual confounding. In addition, the study’s findings may not apply to settings with different vaccine schedules or formulations, or to outcomes with later onset, they noted.¹

“The most important message is that science must lead the conversation. Our study offers robust, population-level evidence that can help counter fear-based narratives,” Hviid said in an interview with Infection Control Today.⁵

“Vaccine hesitancy often stems from uncertainty and distrust. By transparently publishing large-scale, methodologically sound studies like ours, we can strengthen public confidence in vaccines. Policymakers and health care professionals play a vital role in conveying these findings, and we hope this research gives them a powerful tool to reassure parents: The vaccines we give our children are not only effective, but also safe,” he concluded. ⁵

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References

1. Andersson NW, Svalgaard IB, Skovbo S, Hviid A. Aluminum adsorbed vaccines and chronic disease in childhood: A nationwide cohort study. Ann Intern Med. 2025;178:000-000. doi:10.7326/ANNALS-25-00997

2. Hogenesch H. Mechanism of immunopotentiation and safety of aluminum adjuvants. Front Immunol. 2012;3:406. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2012.00406

3. Conklin L, Hviid A, Orenstein WA, et al. Vaccine safety issues at the turn of the 21st century. BMJ Glob Health. 2021;6:e004898. doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2020-004898

4. DeStefano F, Bodenstab HM, Offit PA. Principal controversies in vaccine safety in the United States. Clin Infect Dis. 2019;69:726- 731. doi:10.1093/cid/ciz135

5. Martonicz TW. No link found between aluminum in vaccines and chronic disorders. Infection Control Today. July 14, 2025. https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/no-link-found-between-aluminum-vaccines-chronic-disorders

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The carbon footprint of surgical aortic valve replacement is roughly twice as large as TAVI, with much of the increase driven by more biological waste, longer hospital stays, and use of anesthetic gases, according to a new analysis.

While the differences in environmental impact between the oft-compared procedures is notable, the authors stress the message is to simply be aware that clinical choices can have downstream effects on climate change and to take that knowledge into consideration when appropriate.

“The system from top to bottom is meant for maximizing care and quality—it’s just not maximizing any kind of efficiency of the environment,” senior author Isaac George, MD (NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY), told TCTMD. “I hope what we can do with this paper is to help people see and understand the implications of all of these decisions. It’s not so much that one therapy is better than another, but there are consequences to everything that we do. I think the real point is that we should try to start incorporating some of this into our decision-making and try to implement protocols to do better at this.”

Study co-author and environmental researcher Christoph Meinrenken, PhD (Columbia University, New York, NY), said the point of the analysis was not to direct clinicians to always make the lower-footprint choice.

“Obviously the patient comes first [with] cost to the healthcare system coming second as a consideration,” he told TCTMD. “But in situations where you can have win-win for the environment and the patient . . . then why not also take the environmental considerations into account?”

The study isn’t the first attempt by cardiologists to analyze the carbon footprint of their profession, with previous efforts made to analyze and potentially recycle waste in the cath lab.

Commenting on the analysis for TCTMD, Subodh Verma, MD, PhD (Unity Health Toronto, University of Toronto, Canada), said “it rightly challenges” physicians to reflect on the consequences of their practice—within reason.

“While we must be increasingly mindful of our carbon footprint, especially in high-volume procedural areas like valve therapy, clinical decisions must continue to be guided by patient-centered, evidence-based principles,” he said in an email. “Considerations such as anatomical suitability, valve durability, and long-term outcomes remain paramount. That said, this study offers a valuable foundation to inform future efforts toward more sustainable care and innovation in technological development.”

‘Someone’s Paying the Cost’

For the study, published online recently in the European Heart Journal with first author David Blitzer, MD (NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center), researchers calculated the carbon footprint of 10 SAVR operations and 20 TAVIs (half done in the OR and half in the cath lab) at their institution between March and September 2023.

As measured in kilograms of CO₂ equivalents, the total carbon footprints for both TAVI performed in the OR (280–340 kg CO₂e) and cath lab (290–360 kg CO₂e) were about half that of SAVR (620–750 kg CO₂e; P < 0.05 for both). Put into perspective, the environmental impact of a TAVI is roughly equivalent to a one-way flight from New York City to Chicago, while that of SAVR is about the same as a one-way flight from New York City to Los Angeles, the authors write.

Use of the intensive care unit (ICU) postoperatively and overall floor care made up most of the footprint across the board, ranging from around 170 kg CO₂e for TAVI done in both the OR (55% of total) and cath lab (52% of total) to 405 kg CO₂e for SAVR (59% of total; P < 0.05 SAVR vs either TAVI location). ICU stay alone was the largest contributor to the carbon footprint, comprising about 27% for TAVI in the OR, 25% for TAVI in the cath lab, and 43% for SAVR. Other major contributors were pre-op catheterization, making and discarding specialized equipment, and landfill waste.

It’s not so much that one therapy is better than another, but there are consequences to everything that we do. Isaac George

The intraoperative carbon footprint was also more than double for SAVR (241 kg CO₂e) than for either TAVI in the OR (100 kg CO₂e) or cath lab (103 kg CO₂e), driven largely by more biological waste and use of inhaled anesthetic gases.

George said the study findings have not changed his clinical practice, but they do make him think about his use of materials more closely with an eye toward reducing waste.

“There’s no question I try to really decide: do I need something open or not? Do I really want to use this or not?” he said. “I’m very cost conscious now, much more cost conscious.”

What he’d like to see happen next is “people to take a look at this paper as a system and say: ‘Hey, are there ways that we can improve what we’re doing either in the OR or in the cath lab?’ We use so many wires in the cath lab. We just open them and they end up on the floor and they’re like: ‘Open another one.’ [With] all of this stuff, someone’s paying the cost for this.”

July 14 (UPI) — Folks using GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Ozempic are more likely to suffer from severe acid reflux, a new study says.

People with type 2 diabetes were more likely to suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) if they were prescribed a GLP-1 drug compared to those taking sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors, researchers reported Tuesday in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

“We estimated that most GLP-1 [drugs] increased risk for GERD,” concluded the research team led by Laurent Azoulay, an associate professor with the Jewish General Hospital’s Center for Clinical Epidemiology in Montreal, Canada.

The risk for serious GERD-related complications was higher among smokers, people with obesity and folks with existing stomach problems, researchers said.

“Although our findings need to be corroborated in other studies, clinicians and patients should be aware of a possible adverse effect of GLP-1 [drugs] on GERD,” researchers noted.

For the study, researchers tracked more than 24,700 type 2 diabetics newly prescribed GLP-1 drugs, comparing their health to that of more than 89,000 who were prescribed SGLT-2 inhibitors.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs mimic the GLP-1 hormone, which helps control insulin and blood sugar levels, decreases appetite and slows digestion of food.

Because the drugs slow the rate at which food passes through the stomach, researchers thought they might increase the risk of acid reflux.

GERD occurs when acid reflux happens repeatedly over time, the Mayo Clinic says. If it continues, GERD can cause scarring and narrowing of the esophagus and increase a person’s risk of esophageal cancer.

Results show that people taking GLP-1 drugs were 27% more likely to develop GERD and 55% more likely to have GERD complications, when compared to people taking SGLT-2 inhibitors.

More than 90% of GERD complications involved Barrett esophagus, in which acid damage changes the tissue lining of the esophagus and increases cancer risk, researchers noted.

“We also found that the risk for GERD was higher with long-acting GLP-1 (drug) use,” researchers wrote.

However, they noted that these findings need to be verified by studies involving other groups, including those taking GLP-1 drugs for obesity.

“There is limited evidence on the risk for GERD among patients with obesity who do not have type 2 diabetes,” researchers wrote. “Use of GLP-1 [drugs] is rapidly expanding in this population, highlighting an important area for future research.”

More information

The Mayo Clinic has more on GERD.

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