EFFECTS OF IPRIFLAVONE ADMINISTRATION ON BONE MASS AND METABOLISM IN OVARIECTOMIZED WOMEN

The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of ipriflavone administration in the prevention of the rapid bone loss that follows o variectomy in women. After 10-30 days from bilateral ovariectomy, pati ents received either the sole calcium supplementation (500 mg/day, n=1 6) or ipriflavone (600 mg/day, n=16) in addition to the same daily cal cium supplement for 12 months. In calcium-treated subjects urinary hyd roxyproline excretion, serum alkaline phosphatase and plasma bone Gla protein levels showed a substantial (p<0.01) increase, while radial bo ne density significantly (p<0.01) decreased 6 months after surgery. In ipriflavone treated group the patterns of biochemical markers indicat ed that ipriflavone can restrain the bone remodeling processes and rad ial bone density showed no significant modification during the 12 mont h study period. These results demonstrate that ipriflavone administrat ion prevents the rapid bone loss that follows ovariectomy. Thus, iprif lavone can represent an actractive alternative for the prevention of o steoporosis in postmenopausal women who present contraindications to t he estrogen replacement therapy.