Impact of calcitonin on urinary excretion of prostaglandins during menopause.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of calcitonin as an antiresorptive agent in postmenopausal osteoporosis in prostaglandin metabolism. Urinary prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) concentrations were determined by PGE2 (125I) RIA kit in a total number of 37 patients in postmenopause; 27 in study group with established osteoporosis (WEO) and 10 in another group without osteoporosis (WO). An additional group of 12 patients in the premenopausal period were selected as controls (PreM). Data were given as mean +/- SD and statistical analysis was performed by Student's t test for paired and unpaired values. A significant decrease in urinary PGE2 concentrations was observed in WEO (7.91 +/- 3.08 vs. 3.79 +/- 3.01 ng/l) (p < 0.001), WO (9.06 +/- 6.76 vs. 6.06 +/- 3.90 ng/l) (p < 0.05) and PreM (7.14 +/- 1.68 vs. 5.16 +/- 1.91 ng/l) (p < 0.01). As a conclusion, calcitonin seems to exert a negative effect on prostaglandin metabolism resulting in reduced new prostaglandin formation.