[The efficacy of alendronate in the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effectiveness of alendronate Chinese national product in the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.


METHODS
The 56 postmenopausal women with osteopenia or osteoporosis were randomly divided into two groups: treated with alendronate 10 mg/d (28 cases) orally and placebo (28 cases), for 6 months. All subjects received 600 mg/d of calcium carbonate and vitamin D 1,000 U/d. Bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine, femoral neck, trochanter and Ward's triangle were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry as well as the markers of bone turnover were analysed at the beginning and the end of the study.


RESULTS
The results showed that lumbar spine BMD increased by 5% in the alendronate group (P < 0.01), but decreased in BMD of the lumbar spine and femur in the placebo group (P < 0.05) after 6 months of treatment. In the alendronate group the marker of bone resorption and bone formation were significantly decreased after alendronate therapy. There were no change in placebo group.


CONCLUSIONS
Alendronate (Chinese national product) is effective in reducing bone turnover and promoting bone mass of postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Cheng
Zhi-qiang
ZQ
Department of Endocrinology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300075, China. czq6527@sohu.com
Yin
Wei
W
Fan
Ji-yuan
JY
Ma
Tong-jun
TJ
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000368:Aged; D019386:Alendronate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015519:Bone Density; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*
D019386:Alendronate