A brand new Scientific Assertion launched in the present day by the Endocrine Society highlights analysis gaps related to the damaging results of opioid use on the endocrine system.
The use and misuse of opioids are a rising world downside. Opioids are used to deal with ache in folks with most cancers or different situations (e.g., after an damage or surgical procedure), nevertheless, they’re extremely addictive and other people can develop opioid use dysfunction (OUD). The World Well being Group estimates 125,000 folks died of opioid overdose in 2019.
The use and misuse of opioids has a damaging impact on our hormones and may result in reproductive, bone and adrenal well being problems.
“Exogenous Opioids and the Human Endocrine System: An Endocrine Society Scientific Assertion,” evaluations information associated to the use and misuse of opioids and the consequences of those medicine on the endocrine system. The Assertion discusses current analysis on the medical penalties of opioids, particularly on the hypothalamic-pituitary system and bone well being.
We handle the numerous analysis gaps related to the consequences and medical penalties of opioids on the endocrine system inside this Scientific Assertion. We hope bringing consideration to current analysis within the area, together with opioid use’s affect on gonadal, bone and adrenal situations, will enhance the endocrine well being of individuals utilizing or misusing opioids worldwide.”
Niki Karavitaki, M.Sc., Ph.D., F.R.C.P., lead Assertion writer of the College of Birmingham, Birmingham Well being Companions, and the College Hospitals Birmingham Nationwide Well being Service Basis Belief in Birmingham, U.Ok.
The Assertion evaluations analysis associated to the affect of opioids on gonadal and adrenal perform, and bone well being. The authors report male hypogonadism, a reproductive well being situation that causes low testosterone, as a well-recognized aspect impact of opioids, and supply extra readability across the drug’s lesser-known results on different components of the hypothalamic-pituitary system and bone well being. They focus on the hyperlink between opioids and the event of hyperprolactinemia and the way extra analysis is required to grasp their impact on secondary adrenal insufficiency.
The Assertion authors additionally assessed how opioids have an effect on the secretion of sure hormones to higher perceive the connection between opioid use and endocrine illness. These hormones embrace development hormone, arginine vasopressin (regulates the physique’s water steadiness), and oxytocin (performs an important function within the childbirth course of).
Additionally they reviewed analysis into opioid’s actions on bone metabolism and their damaging affect on bone mineral density and threat of fracture.
“Clinicians want to pay attention to these endocrine well being penalties and monitor sufferers who’re utilizing opioids extra carefully for indicators and signs of them,” Karavitaki stated.
Different assertion authors are Jeffrey Bettinger of Saratoga Hospital Medical Group in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; Nienke Biermasz of Leiden College Medical Heart in Leiden, The Netherlands; Mirjam Christ-Crain of the College Hospital Basel and the College of Basel in Basel, Switzerland; Monica Gadelha of the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Warrick Inder of Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, and the College of Queensland, Brisbane, in Queensland, Australia; Elena Tsourdi of Technische Universität Dresden in Dresden, Germany; Sarah Wakeman of Massachusetts Normal Hospital, Mass Normal Brigham and Harvard Medical College in Boston, Mass.; and Maria Zatelli of the College of Ferrara in Ferrara, Italy.
Supply:
Journal reference:
Karavitaki, N., et al. (2024). Exogenous Opioids and the Human Endocrine System: An Endocrine Society Scientific Assertion. Endocrine Evaluations. doi.org/10.1210/endrev/bnae023.
