Effect of long-term administration of progestogen on post-menopausal bone loss: result of a two-year, controlled randomized study.
OBJECTIVE
We determined whether a progestogen given alone to post-menopausal women may prevent bone loss.


METHODS
Thirty-five early post-menopausal women who had not received any form of treatment to prevent bone loss were randomly assigned to a 2-year regimen of 500 micrograms/day of a gestagen derived from 19-norprogesterone (Promegestone) or a placebo for 21 days out of a 28-day treatment cycle. Bone mineral density of the spine was measured by dual photon absorptiometry.


RESULTS
After 2 years of treatment bone mineral density decreased significantly in the placebo group by a mean of 4.5%. In the gestagen group, the rate of bone change was significantly lower as compared to the placebo group (-1.3% +/- 1.2% vs -4.5% +/- 2% (mean +/- SEM), P < 0.05). There were no changes in the biochemical bone turnover parameters in the placebo group but in the gestagen group a significant decrease was observed in the urinary calcium excretion after 2 years.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that a gestagen with no androgenic action can partly counteract early post-menopausal bone loss.
Trémollières
F
F
UF Maladies Osseuses et Métaboliques, Service d'Endocrinologie, CHU Purpan, Toulouse, France.
Pouilles
J M
JM
Ribot
C
C
D000284:Administration, Oral; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D002118:Calcium / Q000652:urine; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011397:Promegestone / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D011397:Promegestone; D002118:Calcium