title: [Vitamin D and its derivatives as anti-osteoporotic drugs].
abstract: Vitamin D, particularly its active form, has been most widely used in Japan for the treatment of osteoporosis. However, clinical evidence for its efficacy as an anti-osteoporotic drug is scarce in terms of fracture prevention. Recent reports suggest that active vitamin D or its analogs may prevent fracture not only through enhancement of intestinal calcium absorption but also by improving bone quality and/or strength independently of bone mass and by improving neuromuscular function to reduce the number of falls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Sciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School Institute of Health Biosciences, Japan.
authors.forename: Masatomo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mihara
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D005265:Femoral Neck Fractures / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; D002117:Calcitriol; C547512:eldecalcitol; D002118:Calcium