| Abstract: | ![]()
The short-term dose-response relationship between treatment with the bisphosphonate alendronate, biochemical markers of bone turnover, and changes in lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) over 9 months was assessed using a double-masked controlled study design in 65 postmenopausal women (mean age 51.6 years, mean 1.5 years since last menses) receiving 5, 20, 40 mg of alendronate or placebo for 6 weeks. After 6 weeks of alendronate, serum calcium phosphate and osteocalcin decreased, and intact parathyroid hormone increased significantly in dose-dependent fashions in the alendronate-treated groups (T) compared with placebo (P). Generally similar changes (decreases) were noted in 24-h urinary calcium and pyridinoline (deoxy- and hydroxylysl pyridoline); by 30 weeks post-treatment no significant changes from baseline or between T and P were noted. Lumbar BMD by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry demonstrated a dose-dependent response over 9 months (median % change ±SD: –1.2±0.9 for 5 mg T, +0.7±0.8 for 20 mg T*, +1.2±1.1 for 40 mg T*;*p<0.01 vs=" p).=" alendronate=" was=" generally=" well=" tolerated=" over=" all=" dosages.=" these=" data=" demonstrate=" that=" short-term=" (6=" weeks)=" oral=" alendronate=" treatment=" (5–40=" mg=" daily)=" is=" well=" tolerated=" and=" effective=" in=" (reversibly)=" decreasing=" biochemical=" markers=" of=" bone=" turnover=" in=" early=" postmenopausal=" women,=" and=" in=" stabilizing=" spinal=" bmd=" over=" 9=" months.=" longer-term=" treatment=" with=" larger=" clinical=" populations=" is=" indicated=" to=" define=" more=" fully=" the=" potential=" efficacy=" and=" safety=" of=" chronic=" alendronate="> |
