title: Effect of ibandronate therapy on serum homocysteine and leptin in postmenopausal osteoporotic females.
abstract: A significant change in serum leptin level and no change in homocysteine were observed with ibandronate treatment. No correlation of homocysteine and leptin was found with bone mass density (BMD). Results indicate that ibandronate reduces serum leptin levels but how does it help in reducing the osteoporosis. It needs to be explored.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The current study was planned to determine the effects of ibandronate on serum homocysteine and leptin levels in postmenopausal osteoporotic females and to correlate these with BMD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two newly diagnosed and untreated postmenopausal osteoporotic females were selected on the basis of their BMD (BMD < -2.5) from Orthopaedic Out Patient Department of Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, and 36, age and BMI matched non-osteoporotic postmenopausal females, were also selected as a control group. Baseline physical and biochemical parameters were compared. In osteoporotic patients, changes in circulating leptin and homocysteine levels were studied after 6 months of therapy with ibandronate (150 mg). The collected data were analyzed on SPSS 16.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference observed in the mean value of all baseline parameters except BMD in both groups. After 6 months of treatment with ibandronate (150 mg), a significant change was observed in serum leptin levels (19.48 ± 1.60 ng/ml vs. 14.09 ± 0.85 ng/ml, p < 0.002), while no considerable change observed in serum homocysteine levels (16.22 ± 0.95 μmol/l vs. 16.80 ± 1.03 μmol/l, p < 0.63). Serum leptin was found significantly correlated with anthropometric parameters. No correlation of serum leptin and homocysteine was found with BMD (r = 0.09, p value = 0.54; r = -0.17, p value = 0.27).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show that ibandronate reduces serum leptin levels while it has no effect on serum homocysteine levels. Further studies are needed to explain how the decrease in serum leptin level may help in reducing the progression of osteoporosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University Medical & Dental College, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan, drsabatariq1@gmail.com.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tariq
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tariq
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baig
mesh_terms: D015519:Bone Density; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002111:Calcaneus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003720:Densitometry / Q000379:methods; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D000077557:Ibandronic Acid; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates; D020738:Leptin; D006710:Homocysteine; D000077557:Ibandronic Acid