title: Recommended dose of alfacacidol for osteoporosis.
abstract: The present study aims to investigate a proper dose of alfacalcidol by using the parathyroid level as a marker due to the end product of alfacalcidol is calcitriol which has a property of suppression secretion of parathyroid glands. The research enrolled 259 volunteers which were divided into 2 groups. Each group took the elemental calcium 800 milligram plus alfacalcidol at the different doses. Group (A) received alfacalcidol 1.0 microgram/day and Group (B) had alfacalcidol 1.5 micrograms/day for 3 months. Group (A) could not suppress the secretion of PTH compared with Group (B) of which the PTH level was decreased significantly (p = 0.047). Alfacalcidol in both groups can not decrease the bone resorption monitored by using the bone resorption marker, BetacrossLaps or bCTx.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand. todrnarong@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Narong
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bunyaratavej
mesh_terms: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols; C008088:alfacalcidol