Calcium, gamma-linolenic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid supplementation insenile osteoporosis

Recent animal work suggests that gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and eicosapenta enoic acid (EPA) enhance calcium absorption, reduce excretion and increase calcium deposition in bone. A pilot study was set up to test the interactio ns between calcium and GLA+EPA in humans. Sixty-five women (mean age 79.5), taking a background diet lour in calcium, were randomly assigned to GLA+EP A or coconut oil placebo capsules; in addition, all received 600 mg/day cal cium as the carbonate. Markers of bone formation/degradation and bone miner al density (BMD) were measured at baseline, 6, 12 and 18 months. Twenty-one patients were continued on treatment for a second period of 18 months, aft er which BMD (36 months) was measured. At 18 months, osteocalcin and deoxyp yridinoline levels fell significantly in both groups, indicating a decrease in bone turnover, whereas bone specific alkaline phosphatase rose indicati ng beneficial effects of calcium given to all the patients. Lumbar and femo ral BMD, in contrast, showed different effects in the true groups. Over the first 18 months, lumbar spine density remained the same in, the treatment group, but decreased 3.2% in the placebo group. Femoral bone density increa sed 1.3% in the treatment group, but decreased 2.1% in the placebo group, D uring the second period of 18 months with all patients now on active treatm ent, lumbar spine density increased 3.1% in patients who remained on active treatment, and 2.3% in patients who switched from placebo to active treatm ent; femoral BMD in the latter group showed an increase of 4.7%. This pilot controlled study suggests that GLA and EPA have beneficial effects on bone in this group of elderly patients, and that they are safe to administer fo r prolonged periods of time. (C) 1998, Editrice Kurtis.