The efficacy and tolerability of once-weekly alendronate 70 mg on bone mineral density and bone turnover markers in postmenopausal Chinese women with osteoporosis

• Published in: Journal of bone and mineral metabolism 2009-07, Vol.27 (4), p.471-478
• Main Authors: Yan, Yuxiang, Wang, Wei, Zhu, Hanmin, Li, Mei, Liu, Jianli, Luo, Bangyao, Xie, Haibao, Zhang, Guangjian, Li, Fuobao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Alendronate - administration & dosage; Alendronate - adverse effects; Alendronate - pharmacology; Alendronate - therapeutic use; Alkaline Phosphatase - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Bone and Bones - drug effects; Bone and Bones - metabolism; Bone density; Bone Density - drug effects; Bones; China; Collagen Type I - urine; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Double-Blind Method; Female; Femur - chemistry; Femur - drug effects; Femur Neck - chemistry; Femur Neck - drug effects; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Lumbar Vertebrae - chemistry; Lumbar Vertebrae - drug effects; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Metabolic Diseases; Middle Aged; Original Article; Orthopedics; Osteoarticular system. Muscles; Osteoporosis; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal - blood; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal - drug therapy; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal - metabolism; Osteoporosis. Osteomalacia. Paget disease; Pelvic Bones - chemistry; Pelvic Bones - drug effects; Peptides - urine; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Skeleton and joints; Treatment Outcome; Vertebrates: osteoarticular system, musculoskeletal system; Women
• ISSN: 0914-8779; 1435-5604
• DOI: 10.1007/s00774-009-0057-7

Osteoporosis has become an important health problem in postmenopausal Chinese women. Bisphosphonates currently are the preferred therapy for treating osteoporosis. However, the use of daily regimen of alendronate in women at risk for osteoporosis has been relatively low in China because of its dosing inconvenience. To determine the efficacy and tolerability of once-weekly alendronate 70 mg in Chinese, a multicenter, randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study was performed in China. Five hundred and sixty postmenopausal women (≤85 years old) with osteoporosis were randomly assigned to receive either alendronate 70 mg or placebo once-weekly for 12 months. All women received calcium 500 mg daily and vitamin D 200 IU daily. A significant increase in lumbar spine BMD was already evident at 6 months of alendronate treatment ( P