EFFICACY OF IPRIFLAVONE IN THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF POSTMENOPAUSAL OSTEOPOROSIS

The efficacy of ipriflavone was investigated in a 1-year double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group clinical trial. Ninety-one postmen opausal women completed the study, 41 received ipriflavone and 50 plac ebo treatment. After six months the bone mineral density of the L2-L4 vertebral region increased in the ipriflavone-treated group (0.015 g/c m(2)), whereas it decreased in the placebo-treated group. The differen ces between the treatment groups were statistically significant. Our r esults support the efficacy of ipriflavone in the treatment of postmen opausal osteoporosis. Since the positive effect was more pronounced af ter 6 months, the possibility of an intermittent ipriflavone treatment might be taken into consideration in the future.