title: [Effect of alfacalcidol on bone and calcium metabolism in elderly women].
abstract: Oral administration of active vitamin D3 can reduce the loss of bone mass and the incidence of fractures in patients with osteoporosis in Japan. We conducted a prospective study to confirm the effects of 1 alpha(OH)D3 (Alfacalcidol, Alfarol Chugai Tokyo) on bone and calcium metabolism in elderly women with osteoporosis. Enrolled in the present study were 16 elderly osteoporosis women aged 72.6 +/- 4.5 years to whom 1 microgram of 1 alpha(OH)D3 was administered daily. Fasting blood and urine were obtained at baseline, 1 week, 4 weeks, 12 weeks and 24 weeks after the treatment. Monitored parameters were vitamin D metabolites, intact-PTH, bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP), osteocalcin (OC), deoxypyridinoline (DPD) and pyridiuium crosslinked type I collagen telopeptides (CTx). Serum 1 alpha, 25(OH)2D and PTH levels were significantly increased (p < 0.01) and decreased (p < 0.05), respectively at 1 week after commencing administration. There was a significant decrease of DPD (p < 0.05) at 12 weeks after commencing administration compared to the baseline levels. Serum levels of BAP and OC were found elevated at 1 week, and decreased at 12 weeks. In conclusion, the present study clinically confirmed that 1 alpha(OH)D3 stimulates bone formation in vitro. Long-term administration of 1 alpha(OH)D3 indirectly suppressed bone resorption through the suppression of parathyroid function in the elderly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Metabolism, Endocrinology & Molecular Medicine, Osaka City University.
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakatsuka
authors.forename: Takami
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miki
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Naka
authors.forename: Kayoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kitatani
authors.forename: Yoshiki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishizawa
authors.forename: Hirotoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Morii
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000378:metabolism; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols; D002118:Calcium; C008088:alfacalcidol