A CLINICAL-TRIAL ON THE EFFECTS OF A COMBINATION OF ELCATONIN (CARBOCALCITONIN) AND CONJUGATED ESTROGENS ON VERTEBRAL BONE MASS IN EARLY POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

The study was carried out to determine the effect of a combination reg imen of a small dose of calcitonin added to conjugated estrogens with medroxyprogesterone acetate on vertebral bone mass in early postmenopa usal women. Comparisons were made with groups of women on calcitonin a lone, on conjugated estrogens with medroxyprogesterone acetate alone, or on no treatment. The study was carried out over a 2-year period. Th e results of the study suggest that the combined regimen of calcitonin and estrogens increased vertebral bone mass in early postmenopausal w omen to a greater extent than calcitonin alone or estrogen alone. Incr eases in vertebral bone mass of 11.2% after 1 year and 9.2% after 2 ye ars were demonstrated using the combined regimen. Both estrogens alone and calcitonin alone were, however, very effective in preventing rapi d bone loss in the postmenopausal women studied.