How a heart medicine might help bones in overactive thyroid
Reduction by propranolol of urinary hydroxyproline excretion in human hyperthyroidism: a beta-receptor blockade effect or a membrane stabilizing mechanism?
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Propranolol reduces bone breakdown independently of beta-blockade and thyroid hormone changes
Most benefits of propranolol in hyperthyroidism are attributed to blocking adrenaline effects or lowering T3. This shows a benefit that bypasses both mechanisms entirely.
Practical Takeaways
Patients with hyperthyroidism on propranolol might be getting unintended bone-protective benefits.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Propranolol reduces bone breakdown independently of beta-blockade and thyroid hormone changes
Most benefits of propranolol in hyperthyroidism are attributed to blocking adrenaline effects or lowering T3. This shows a benefit that bypasses both mechanisms entirely.
Practical Takeaways
Patients with hyperthyroidism on propranolol might be getting unintended bone-protective benefits.
Publication
Journal
Metabolism: clinical and experimental
Year
1984
Authors
M. Beylot, F. Borson, L. David, G. Sautot, J. Riou, R. Mornex
Related Content
Claims (4)
A heart medication called propranolol might help slow down bone breakdown in people with an overactive thyroid, based on changes in a specific substance found in their urine.
If someone has an overactive thyroid, taking propranolol might lower a certain waste product in their urine, and this probably happens because of how the drug affects cell walls, not because of its usual heart-slowing effects or changes to thyroid hormones.
When people have an overactive thyroid, a drug called propranolol lowers a bone breakdown marker in their urine — but it doesn’t do this by changing levels of a key thyroid hormone.
Propranolol helps calm down an overactive thyroid by slowing your heart and stopping the body from turning one thyroid hormone into a stronger one.