Anti-Bone Loss Drugs Help Prevent Fractures

Another study finds women's estrogen levels affect osteoporosis treatment

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MONDAY, June 25 (HealthDay News) -- Osteoporosis drugs called anti-resorptive agents can help reduce the risk of low-trauma bone fractures in women age 50 and older, concludes a study of more than 6,000 Canadian women.

Anti-resorptive agents are a class of medications that slow down the gradual loss of bone. Estrogen, bisphosphonates, selective estrogen-receptor modulators and calcitonin are all anti-resorptive agents.

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At the beginning of the study, the women's bone mineral density was measured, and they were asked about their use of anti-resorptive agents. They were then followed for seven years.

The researchers found the use of anti-resorptive agents to be associated with an average 32 percent reduced risk of non-vertebral osteoporosis-related bone fractures. The risk reduction was higher among women with major risk factors for fractures, including a bone mineral density score equal to or less than 2.5 and a history of prior osteoporosis-linked fractures.

The findings support previous studies that found that these drugs help reduce fractures in women with osteoporosis, said study author Dr. Suzanne Morin, who was slated to present the study Monday at a meeting of the International Bone & Mineral Society in Montreal.

Another study to be presented at the same meeting found that low-dose estrogen therapy is more effective in treating osteoporosis in women with lower, rather than higher, natural levels of estrogen in their blood.

Researchers analyzed data on the effects of a very low dose estrogen patch in 417 postmenopausal women. Their natural estrogen levels were measured at the start of the study.

After one year, women with low natural levels of estrogen had significantly lower bone turnover than those with higher natural levels of estrogen.

"This is the first study to suggest that the effects of a very low dose of estrogen may vary substantially from woman to woman based on their natural estrogen levels," study author Alison Huang said in a prepared statement. "Measuring a woman's natural estrogen levels prior to estrogen therapy may help doctors determine how effective her treatment will be."

More information

The American College of Rheumatology has more about osteoporosis.

-- Robert Preidt