Affiliations: [a] Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey | [b] Department of Endocrinology, Medical Faculty, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Dr. Kadir Yildirim, Atatürk Üniversitesi Tip, Fakültesi Fiziksel Tip ve Rehabilitasyon, Anabilim Dali 25240, Erzurum, Turkey. Tel.: +90 442 2361212/1623; Fax: +90 442 2361301; E-mail: kadiryildirim88@hotmail.com
Abstract: The objective of the study was to compare the effects of alendronate, risedronate and calcitonin on biochemical markers of bone turnover and bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal osteoporosis. The patients (n=200) were equally divided to one of four treatment groups: alendronate 10 mg/daily, risedronate 5 mg/daily, calcitonin 200 IU/daily and control group for 12 months. All groups also received 1000 mg of calcium/daily. The control group received only 1000 mg calcium/daily. Serum osteocalcin (OC), bone specific alkaline phosphatase (BSAP) and urinary deoxypyridinoline (uDPD) levels were determined. There are increases in BMD at two regions, at the end of 12 months in four groups. The mean increases in BMD at 12 months, at the lumbar spine and hip respectively, were: alendronate (p<0.05, p<0.001), risedronate (p<0.001, p<0.01), calcitonin (p<0.05, p<0.01) and control group (p>0.05 for both site). In comparison with control group, the mean changes in BMD at the spine and hip were greater in the other groups (p<0.05 for both region). uDPD levels were gradually reduced at the end of study in all groups (p<0.01 for three groups), while no significant change was found in calcium group. The treatment with alendronate produced significantly greater increases in total hip BMD than did risedronate and calcitonin and tretment with risedronate produced significantly greater increases in lumbar spine BMD than did alendronate and calcitonin over 12 months. This study demonstrated the efficacy of alendronate, risedronate and calcitonin in preventing the bone loss related to postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Keywords: Osteoporosis, bone metabolism, BMD, alendronate, risedronate, calcitonin, calcium
