Preventing postmenopausal bone loss with ossein-hydroxyapatite compounds. Results of a two-year, prospective trial.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate, in postmenopausal women who refuse hormone replacement therapy (HRT), whether continuous administration of an osseinhydroxyapatite compound (OHC) reduces bone loss and protects from osteoporosis.


METHODS
Sixty postmenopausal women were included in an open study and were allocated to three groups. The first group (n = 19) received treatment consisting in 3.32 g/d of OHC per day, the second group (n = 21) received 2.5 g of calcium carbonate per day, and the third group (n = 20) was a treatment-free control group. Bone mineral density (BMD), assessed by dual x-ray absorptiometry, was measured prior to and at 12 and 24 months of treatment.


RESULTS
Subjects on OHC therapy did not show significant changes related to baseline on bone mass across the study, whereas a significant decrease was detected in the calcium carbonate group during the second year (-3.7%, P < .05) and in the control group at the first and second BMD measurement (-3.5%, P < .05; -5.6%, P < .01).


CONCLUSIONS
Continuous administration of OHC prevents bone loss in postmenopausal women, suggesting that this drug may be useful in the management of postmenopausal bone loss.
Castelo-Branco
C
C
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Hospital Clínic i Provincial, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Spain. castelo@medicina.ub.es
Pons
F
F
Vicente
J J
JJ
Sanjuán
A
A
Vanrell
J A
JA
D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017886:Durapatite / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D017886:Durapatite; D002119:Calcium Carbonate