New aspects of postmenopausal osteoporosis treatment with micronized estradiol and progesterone.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of postmenopausal osteoporosis treatment with natural sex hormones.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

The single-blind study included 210 women, randomly allocated to three different groups, with various methods of treatment: Group I (70 controls) received transcutaneous placebo for the course of one year, Group II (70 females, aged 52.2 ± 3.1 years) used oral hormone supplementary therapy (HST), and Group III (70 females, aged 51.9 ± 3.5 years) received transcutaneous modified hormone replacement therapy (MHRT), supplemented with intravaginal lutein, dietary minerals, and 1000 IU of vitamin D3/day.

RESULTS

No increase in bone mineral density was observed in the control group. However, mineral density of the vertebral bodies was significantly higher after 3 and 5 years in the HST group (p < 0.05), and after 1 year in the MHRT group (p < 0.01). This increase was even more significant (p < 0.001) after 3 and 5 years in the MHRT group.

CONCLUSIONS

Transcutaneous hormone therapy with micronized estradiol and progesterone is the treatment of choice in postmenopausal osteoporosis, as evidenced by bone mineral density and biochemical markers.