Prospective evaluation of calcium and estrogen administration on bone mass and metabolism after ovariectomy.
We evaluated the effects of low-dose ethinylestradiol administration in the prevention of the rapid bone loss that follows ovariectomy in women. After 10-30 days from surgery, patients received either a sole calcium supplementation 500 mg/day (n = 20) or ethinylestradiol 20 micrograms/day in addition to the same daily calcium supplement (n = 21), for 12 months. In the control group, urinary hydroxyproline excretion, serum alkaline phosphatase and plasma bone Gla protein levels presented a substantial (p < 0.05) increase, while radial bone density significantly (p < 0.05) decreased 6 months after surgery. In the ethinylestradiol-treated group, the patterns of biochemical markers indicated that ethinylestradiol can restrain the bone remodelling processes. Radial bone density showed no significant modification during the 12 months' study period. In conclusions, these results demonstrate that the administration of 20 micrograms/day of ethinylestradiol can prevent the rapid bone loss that follows ovariectomy.
Gambacciani
M
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Piero Fioretti, University of Pisa, Italy.
Spinetti
A
A
Taponeco
F
F
Ciaponi
M
M
Cima
G P
GP
Teti
G C
GC
Genazzani
A R
AR
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D045166:Estradiol Congeners / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000652:urine; D008875:Middle Aged; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000517:prevention & control; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011884:Radius / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors
D045166:Estradiol Congeners; D015675:Osteocalcin; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D006909:Hydroxyproline; D002118:Calcium