Bone loss after bariatric surgery: could denosumab be the answer?
NCT ID NCT04087096
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
Bariatric surgery can lead to bone loss and increase fracture risk. This study tested whether denosumab, a drug used for osteoporosis, could prevent that bone loss. The trial included 36 postmenopausal women and men aged 50 and older who were planning weight-loss surgery. Participants received denosumab or a placebo at 1, 7, and 13 months after surgery, with a follow-up dose of zoledronic acid at 19 months.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
Denosumab (Prolia)
What this could lead to
If it works, this could point toward a way to protect bones after bariatric surgery, reducing fracture risk.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-phase trial with only 36 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. Bone loss prevention may not be fully achieved.
Disclaimer
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This is a summary of
the original study
.
Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States
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University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, California, 94143, United States