title: POTASSIUM CITRATE DECREASES BONE RESORPTION IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN WITH OSTEOPENIA: A RANDOMIZED, DOUBLE-BLIND CLINICAL TRIAL.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Diets rich in animal protein, such as the typical American diet, are thought to create a high acid load. An association between acid load and bone loss has led to the idea that providing positive alkaline salt therapy could have beneficial effects on bone metabolism. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of potassium citrate (K-citrate), 40 mEq daily, over 1 year on bone resorption and formation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 83 women with postmenopausal osteopenia. Levels of bone turnover markers, specifically urinary N-telopeptide of collagen type 1 (u-NTX), amino-terminal propeptide of type 1 procollagen (P1NP), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BSAP), and osteocalcin (OC) were compared. Changes in bone mineral density (BMD) were also examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  K-citrate decreased both u-NTX (P = .005) and serum P1NP (P<.001) starting at month 1 and continuing through month 12. No significant change was seen in BSAP or OC. No significant change was seen in lumbar or hip BMD between the 2 groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In women with postmenopausal osteopenia, treatment with K-citrate for 1 year resulted in a significant decrease in markers of turnover. The effect on markers of bone formation was not consistent. K-citrate may serve as a potential treatment for bone loss that is well tolerated and without any significant known long-term consequences.
authors.forename: Naina Sinha
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Gregory
authors.forename: Rekha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Emily M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Christos
authors.forename: Richard S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Bockman
authors.forename: John S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Rodman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000187:drug effects; D019357:Potassium Citrate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D019357:Potassium Citrate