[The efficacy of alendronate in the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effectiveness of alendronate Chinese national product in the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

METHODS

The 56 postmenopausal women with osteopenia or osteoporosis were randomly divided into two groups: treated with alendronate 10 mg/d (28 cases) orally and placebo (28 cases), for 6 months. All subjects received 600 mg/d of calcium carbonate and vitamin D 1,000 U/d. Bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine, femoral neck, trochanter and Ward's triangle were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry as well as the markers of bone turnover were analysed at the beginning and the end of the study.

RESULTS

The results showed that lumbar spine BMD increased by 5% in the alendronate group (P < 0.01), but decreased in BMD of the lumbar spine and femur in the placebo group (P < 0.05) after 6 months of treatment. In the alendronate group the marker of bone resorption and bone formation were significantly decreased after alendronate therapy. There were no change in placebo group.

CONCLUSIONS

Alendronate (Chinese national product) is effective in reducing bone turnover and promoting bone mass of postmenopausal osteoporosis.