[The preventive effect of estrogen and vitamin D on postmenopausal bone loss].
In order to evaluate the preventive effect of estrogen and vitamin D3 on postmenopausal bone loss, either estrogen (Premarin 0.625 mg/day) or vitamin D3 (Onealfa 1.0 micrograms/day) was administered to postmenopausal women. Changes in lumbar bone mineral density (BMD) were monitored by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). The lumbar BMD of women given estrogen showed a significant increase at 6 months after treatment. The highest response to estrogen was demonstrated within a year after treatment, and thereafter the effect was diminished but still prevented further bone loss. On the other hand, the effect of vitamin D was heterogeneous. Half of the women receiving vitamin D showed a remarkable increase at a year later, but in the remainder there was a decrease and the overall there was little change from the pretreatment value. These results indicate that estrogen can be used as a first choice for the prevention of postmenopausal bone loss, but further studies on the preventive effect of vitamin D are needed.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gunma University, School of Medicine.
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Soda
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Mizunuma
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Honjo
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Okano
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Ibuki
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*
D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); D002762:Cholecalciferol