The Safety and Efficacy of Early-Stage Bi-Weekly Alendronate to Improve Bone Mineral Density and Bone Turnover in Chinese Post-Menopausal Women at Risk of Osteoporosis

Abstract

The efficacy and safety of early, low frequency antiresorptive drug intervention for osteopaenia on bone mineral density (BMD) and bone turnover in Chinese post-menopausal women at risk of developing osteoporosis were investigated. A total of 180 women aged 40 -70 years were enrolled and equally randomized to receive either 70 mg alendronate once every 2 weeks plus 0.5 µg alfacalcidol daily (treatment group) or alfacalcidol 0.5 µg daily alone (control group) for 12 months. In the treatment group, lumbar spine and total hip BMD at 12 months had increased significantly from baseline and compared with the control group. There were also significant reductions in serum levels of the bone turnover biomarkers, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen, compared with the control. No serious adverse events were observed in either group and safety profiles were similar. It was concluded that early intervention with 70 mg alendronate once every 2 weeks was safe, well tolerated and more effective than alfacalcidol alone (control) in increasing BMD and reducing bone turnover, and might prevent serious outcomes, such as fragility fractures, reduce rates of adverse effects and improve patient compliance.

Mechanical competence of ovariectomy-induced compromised bone after single or combined treatment with high-frequency loading and bisphosphonates

“…This combination therapy might decrease the dosage of ALN in clinical patients. Using a reduced dosage of biphosphonates (lower weekly dose or dosing every 2 weeks) is an unproven but appealing alternative 9 , providing an adequate but less complete surpress of bone turnover 51 and is likely to provide fracture risk reduction.…”

Effects of Vibration in Forced Posture on Biochemical Bone Metabolism Indices, and Morphometric and Mechanical Properties of the Lumbar Vertebra

“…Optimal balance between bone formation and resorption is crucial to maintain the biochemical competence of the skeleton, its structural organization, strength, and function [17] . In postmenopausal osteoporosis, increased osteoclastic activity may be accompanied by increased, decreased, or unchanged osteoblastic activity [18] . Efforts have been made to detect circulating markers of bone cell activity.…”