title: Changes in serum calcium and vitamin D₃ levels after tibolone treatment and their correlations with health-related quality of life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effects of tibolone on serum calcium and vitamin D3 levels, the effects on health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and the relationship between these variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  An open-label, prospective, parallel-arm study was conducted at S.C. Das Memorial Medical and Research Center, Kolkata, India, between July 2012, and June 2013. Women aged 34-55 years were eligible when they were experiencing surgical menopause and were symptomatic. Group A comprised patients who chose to receive tibolone (2.5mg daily for 6 months) and group B comprised those who refused treatment. At baseline and 6 months, body mass index (BMI), serum calcium and vitamin D3 levels and HRQOL were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 79 participants, 53 were in group A and 26 in group B. After 6 months, BMI had increased significantly in both groups. The vitamin D3 level had increased significantly from baseline in group A (P=0.02), and was higher than that in group B (P=0.01). HRQOL had also improved significantly from baseline in group A (P=0.001), and was significantly better than that in group B (P<0.001). In group A, a significant correlation was found between HRQOL improvement and vitamin D3 levels (P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tibolone significantly increases the serum vitamin D3 level and improves HRQOL in menopausal women. Clinical Trial Registry India: CTRI/2012/06/002752.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, S.C. Das Memorial and Research Center, Kolkata, India; KPC Medical College, Kolkata, India. Electronic address: drsudhindra54@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sudhindra M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Bhattacharya
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Murshidabad Medical College, Berhampore, India.
authors.forename: Mainak
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghosh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000097:blood*; D020847:Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D009652:Norpregnenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D020847:Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D009652:Norpregnenes; D002762:Cholecalciferol; C027385:tibolone; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Calcium; Menopause; Tibolone; Vitamin D(3)