ABSTRACT

Purpose:

Osteoporosis is a silent epidemic illness of our modern world.It is characterized by low bone mass and micro-architectural deterioration of bone tissue with a consequent increase in bone fragility and susceptibility to fracture. With the availability of severalclasses of drugs to treat or prevent osteoporosis,the possibility exists that combination therapy might have a favorable effect on bone mineral density.

Methods:

To evaluate the effect of a combined treatment with alendronate and calcitriol on bone mineral density in 6 months;40 osteopenic postmenopausal women, aged 45 -65 years were randomised into four groups. The first group was treated with alendronate(1Omg / day).The second group received only with calcium(500mglday).The third group received calcitriol(mg / day) plus alendronate(1Omg / day). The fourth group received calcitriol(0.5mg / day).Bone mineral density measurements at the level of lomber spine and femoral neck and analyses of bone metabolism were made at the beginning and end of the therapy period(6 months).

Results:

In comparion with either second(calcium) and fourth(calcitriol) group,decrease in alkali phophatase(ALP) values was more significant in the first( alendronate) and third(alendronate+calcitriol) group. Significant increases in lomber spine bone mineral density were found in the first and third group.No significant increase in femoral neck bone mineral density were found in any group.