Monthly risedronate pill to protect bones after sleeve gastrectomy
Official title: Bisphosphonate Use to Mitigate Bone Loss Secondary to Bariatric Surgery
Funded at Wake Forest University · NIH-11322517 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This will see if a once-monthly risedronate pill helps protect bone health for people who have had sleeve gastrectomy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wake Forest University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Winston-Salem, United States) |
| Project start | May 20, 2022 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $591,370 |
| NIH project number | 5U01AR080969-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11322517 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who have undergone sleeve gastrectomy and meet medical safety criteria for taking oral risedronate would be ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People with contraindications to bisphosphonates (for example, certain esophageal disorders, low blood calcium, or severe kidney disease), pregnant or breastfeeding people, or those who cannot take oral medication are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
What this research studies
If you have had sleeve gastrectomy, you may be invited to join a trial where participants are randomly given either a once-monthly oral risedronate pill or a placebo. Doctors will track bone mineral density, blood markers of bone breakdown, and body composition over time to see how bones and muscle change after surgery. The trial team may also collect blood samples to explore biological links between bone and muscle. Regular clinic visits will be required for tests and medication checks.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the treatment could slow bone loss after sleeve gastrectomy and lower long-term fracture risk, and it might also help preserve lean muscle.
How similar studies have gone: Small pilot human studies and animal data suggest risedronate can reduce bone resorption after sleeve gastrectomy and may spare lean mass, but larger definitive trials are still needed.
Where this research is happening
-
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Beavers, Kristen Marie — Wake Forest University
- Study coordinator: Beavers, Kristen Marie
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Bone structure and strength after sleeve gastrectomy with risedronate
This project compares the osteoporosis drug risedronate to a placebo to help protect bone structure and strength in people aged 40 and older having sleeve gastrectomy.
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Investigating how risedronate can prevent bone loss after bariatric surgery
This study is looking at whether the medication risedronate can help prevent bone loss in people over 40 who have had sleeve gastrectomy for weight loss, and it will involve 120 participants taking either the medication or a placebo for six months.
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Using bisphosphonates to prevent bone loss after weight loss surgery
This study is looking at whether a monthly medication called risedronate can help people who have had sleeve gastrectomy surgery keep their bones strong and reduce the risk of fractures as they lose weight.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.