HEALTH NEWS

Study Title:

Calcium Hydroxyapatite Helps Prevent Bone Loss

Study Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate, in postmenopausal women who refuse hormone replacement therapy (HRT), whether continuous administration of an osseinhydroxyapatite compound (OHC) reduces bone loss and protects from osteoporosis.

STUDY DESIGN: Sixty postmenopausal women were included in an open study and were allocated to three groups. The first group (n = 19) received treatment consisting in 3.32 g/d of OHC per day, the second group (n = 21) received 2.5 g of calcium carbonate per day, and the third group (n = 20) was a treatment-free control group. Bone mineral density (BMD), assessed by dual x-ray absorptiometry, was measured prior to and at 12 and 24 months of treatment.

RESULTS: Subjects on OHC therapy did not show significant changes related to baseline on bone mass across the study, whereas a significant decrease was detected in the calcium carbonate group during the second year (-3.7%, P < .05) and in the control group at the first and second BMD measurement (-3.5%, P < .05; -5.6%, P < .01).

CONCLUSION: Continuous administration of OHC prevents bone loss in postmenopausal women, suggesting that this drug may be useful in the management of postmenopausal bone loss.

Study Information

Castelo-Branco C, Pons F, Vicente JJ, Sanjuán A, Vanrell JA.
Preventing postmenopausal bone loss with ossein-hydroxyapatite compounds. Results of a two-year, prospective trial.
J Reprod Med
1999 July
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Hospital Clínic i Provincial, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Spain