From the Popular Press: What Your Patients are Reading:

Researchers found that thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) can prevent bone loss caused by osteoporosis in rats and mice. Thyroid hormone may also aid in restoring previous bone loss. Throughout one’s life, new bone replaces old bone in a constant renewal of the skeleton. Osteoporosis occurs when bone removal happens more rapidly than new bone growth. Since TSH inhibits bone reabsorption, researchers sought to use the hormone to stop reabsorption in osteoporosis patients and prevent further bone loss. In a trial with mice, researchers were able to stop bone loss from occurring, while in a trial using rats with induced menopause-related osteoporosis, injections of TSH actually restored previous bone loss. In these initial trials, the TSH did not cause a release of thyroid hormones in the mice or rats. However, researchers are concerned that in humans these TSH injections may cause hyperthyroidism, and negatively impact the body’s metabolism. Further trials will need to be conducted to ascertain the side effects of TSH, and to confirm the bone-strengthening effect on humans that has been demonstrated in animals.

Read the full text of the article on healthday.com