Effect of strontium ranelate on serum leptin and bone turnover markers in women with established postmenopausal osteoporosis.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the association between leptin levels and bone mineral density (BMD) and bone metabolism markers in postmenopausal women taking strontium ranelate.

STUDY

DESIGN

In this longitudinal uncontrolled study, postmenopausal osteoporotic women were administered strontium ranelate and categorized into 1 of 2 groups: overweight and lean. BMD, serum leptin, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and urinary deoxypyridinoline (Dpd) were assessed at baseline, 6 and 12 months of the therapy.

RESULTS

For all 47 women, leptin levels increased at the sixth month (p = 0.001) and 1 year after treatment (p = 0.001), Dpd levels decreased at the sixth month (p = 0.001) and 1 year after treatment (p = 0.003), but ALP levels did not change with respect to basal levels. Spine and hip BMD also increased at the end of 1 year (p = 0.01 and p = 0.001, respectively). For overweight women leptin levels increased 6 months and 1 year after treatment (p = 0.003 and p = 0.001, respectively). Dpd levels decreased significantly at the sixth month and at 1 year (p = 0.001 and p = 0.041), but ALP levels did not change. Hip and spine BMD also increased (p = 0.036 and p = 0.002). The lean group had similar serum results and BMD scores after treatment.

CONCLUSION

Our data supports a positive effect of leptin on bone metabolism in favor of bone resorption inhibition in postmenopausal osteoporotic women on strontium treatment.