Monthly risedronate pill to protect bones after sleeve gastrectomy

Bisphosphonate Use to Mitigate Bone Loss Secondary to Bariatric Surgery

NIH-funded research Wake Forest University · NIH-11322517

This will see if a once-monthly risedronate pill helps protect bone health for people who have had sleeve gastrectomy.

Quick facts

Grant typeU01 cooperative agreement
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionWake Forest University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Winston-Salem, United States)
Project IDNIH-11322517 on NIH RePORTER

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.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults who have undergone sleeve gastrectomy and meet medical safety criteria for taking oral risedronate would be ideal candidates.

Not a fit: 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.

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 performed: 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

Winston-Salem, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.