Comparison of alendronate, calcitonin and calcium treatments in postmenopausal osteoporosis

The present study was planned to assess the safety, tolerability and effica cy on bone mineral density (BMD), pain, quality of life and fracture risk o f alendronate, calcitonin and calcium treatments. A total of 151 postmenopa usal women with lumbar spine BMD 2 SD or more below the young adult mean we re randomly assigned to one of three groups: 51 patients received oral alen dronate 10 mg and calcium 1000 mg (alendronate group), 50 patients intranas al salmon calcitonin 100 IU and oral calcium 1000 mg (calcitonin group), an d 50 patients oral calcium 1000 mg (calcium group) daily for one year. BMD was assessed by dual energy X-ray absorbtiometry, pain by a visual analogue scale, and quality of life by the Nottingham health profile. Significant i ncreases in BMD at all sites were obtained in the calcitonin and alendronat e groups, but not in the calcium group. Pain and quality of life improved s ignificantly in both the calcitonin and alendronate groups, but not in the calcium group. New vertebral fractures were seen in 31.58% of the alendrona te, 37.5% of the calcitonin, and 40% of the calcium groups, representing no statistical difference. No serious side-effects were seen in any of the pa tients during follow-up.