Nothing personal against telmisartan. It’s great if you have high blood pressure and need medication. I’m just saying there is no drug that is perfect. Taking medicine to lower blood pressure when you have low blood pressure is illogical. For example, it took me a matter of seconds to find literature on a risk of telmisartan to bone mineral density. Be careful!
Bone mineral density is reduced by telmisartan in male spontaneously hypertensive rats
ABSTRACT
Background: Telmisartan, an angiotensin AT1 receptor blocker, and treadmill running were compared for their effects on bone mineral density (BMD) and biomechanical properties of male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). It was hypothesized that running (18 m/min/60 min/d) and telmisartan (5 mg/ kg/d) would have a positive effect on bone parameters.
Methods: Three-month-old male SHRs were divided into three groups: sedentary (S), telmisartan (T), and exercise (E). At the end of an 8-week protocol, femur and lumbar vertebrae were analyzed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for bone mineral density and by the three-point bending test for biomechanical properties. Blood pressure in all groups was measured by a tail-cuff manometer. Results: Telmisartan and treadmill running reduced blood pressure when compared to the sedentary group; however, telmisartan did not improve bone characteristics. Instead, it reduced bone mineral density of femur total and lumbar vertebrae and worsened bone biomechanic properties. Treadmill running maintained bone characteristics and hence was effective in maintaining bone health.
Conclusion: Results showed that telmisartan negatively affected bones suggesting that caution should be taken in possible therapeutic applications for protecting bone health in hypertensive conditions. More studies are necessary to clarify the mechanisms through which telmisartan favors bone loss in this model.
ã 2016 Published by Elsevier Sp. z o.o. on behalf of Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences.
Bone mineral density is reduced by telmisartan in male spontaneously hypertensive rats
ABSTRACT
Background: Telmisartan, an angiotensin AT1 receptor blocker, and treadmill running were compared for their effects on bone mineral density (BMD) and biomechanical properties of male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). It was hypothesized that running (18 m/min/60 min/d) and telmisartan (5 mg/ kg/d) would have a positive effect on bone parameters.
Methods: Three-month-old male SHRs were divided into three groups: sedentary (S), telmisartan (T), and exercise (E). At the end of an 8-week protocol, femur and lumbar vertebrae were analyzed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for bone mineral density and by the three-point bending test for biomechanical properties. Blood pressure in all groups was measured by a tail-cuff manometer. Results: Telmisartan and treadmill running reduced blood pressure when compared to the sedentary group; however, telmisartan did not improve bone characteristics. Instead, it reduced bone mineral density of femur total and lumbar vertebrae and worsened bone biomechanic properties. Treadmill running maintained bone characteristics and hence was effective in maintaining bone health.
Conclusion: Results showed that telmisartan negatively affected bones suggesting that caution should be taken in possible therapeutic applications for protecting bone health in hypertensive conditions. More studies are necessary to clarify the mechanisms through which telmisartan favors bone loss in this model.
ã 2016 Published by Elsevier Sp. z o.o. on behalf of Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences.
