A study conducted by Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago has identified a potential correlation between GLP-1 weight-loss and diabetes medications and nutritional deficiencies among children. The research revealed that one in six children taking these medications developed a nutritional deficiency within a year of starting treatment.
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Vitamin D deficiency was highlighted as the most prevalent, affecting 12.4% of the participants. Senior author Justin Ryder, PhD, who serves as the Vice Chair of Research for the Department of Surgery at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital and is an Associate Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, emphasized the importance of nutrients such as vitamin D, iron, and calcium during adolescence, noting that deficiencies could have long-term effects on skeletal health and overall development.
The study analyzed over 2,000 GLP-1 medication users aging from 10 to 17 years, none of whom had been diagnosed with a nutritional deficiency prior to the research. Liraglutide, marketed under the brand names Victoza and Saxenda, constituted nearly 80% of the medications prescribed.
Researchers expressed concern that these medications could impact appetite and food intake, potentially leading to inadequate nutrition during a critical developmental phase. They suggested that nutritional monitoring and support should be integral to GLP-1 treatment for children and adolescents.
Dr. Ryder hopes the study highlights the necessity of proactive nutritional management when prescribing GLP-1s to children, rather than waiting until deficiencies are identified, stating, "Knowing the risks, we are in a much better position to prevent harm to children treated with GLP-1s during a pivotal period in their lives."