title: Effects of 1 alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 on lumbar bone mineral density and vertebral fractures in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis.
abstract: The effects of 1 alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 [1 alpha(OH)D3] on bone mineral density, fracture incidence, and bone metabolism were evaluated by a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Eighty postmenopausal osteoporotic Japanese women (71.9 +/- 7.3 years, mean +/- SD) were randomly assigned to 1 microgram of 1 alpha(OH)D3 daily or inactive placebo for 1 year. All patients were given supplemental calcium (300 mg of elemental calcium daily). Lumbar (L2-L4) bone mineral density (BMD) determined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry increased 0.65% with 1 alpha(OH)D3 treatment and decreased 1.14% with placebo (P = 0.037). BMD in both the femoral neck and Ward's triangle did not yield any significant differences between the two groups, whereas trochanter BMD in the 1 alpha(OH)D3-treated group increased 4.20% and decreased 2.37% with placebo (P = 0.055). X-ray analysis demonstrated that new vertebral fractures occurred in two patients with 1 alpha(OH)D3 and in seven patients with placebo. The vertebral fracture rate in the treated group was significantly less (75/1000 patient years) than in the control group (277/1000 patient years; P = 0.029). Hypercalcemia (12.1 mg/100 ml) occurred in one patient receiving 1 alpha(OH)D3; however, the serum calcium level in this patient promptly decreased to the reference range after cessation of the treatment. There were no significant changes in serum creatinine level in either group. A significant increase in urinary excretion of calcium was found but there was no significant change in urinary excretion of hydroxyproline in the treated group. The serum level of bone-derived alkaline phosphatase activity significantly decreased by -26 +/- 26 (mU/ml) after the treatment (P = 0.003).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Orimo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shiraki
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hoshino
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Onaya
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kurosawa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ogawa
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols; C008088:alfacalcidol