The Effect of Nandrolone Decanoate on Bone Mineral Density, Muscle Mass, and Hemoglobin Levels in Elderly Women With Osteoporosis: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

• Published in: The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences Biological sciences and medical sciences, 2005-05, Vol.60 (5), p.648-653
• Main Authors: Frisoli, Alberto, Chaves, Paulo H. M., Pinheiro, Marcelo Medeiros, Szejnfeld, Vera Lucia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorptiometry, Photon; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Androgens; Androgens - therapeutic use; Bone Density - drug effects; Bones; Clinical trials; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Double-Blind Method; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Fractures, Spontaneous - prevention & control; Gerontology; Humans; Nandrolone - therapeutic use; Older people; Osteoporosis; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal - diagnosis; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal - drug therapy; Probability; Prospective Studies; Reference Values; Risk Assessment; Statistics, Nonparametric; Treatment Outcome; Women
• ISSN: 1079-5006; 1758-535X
• DOI: 10.1093/gerona/60.5.648

Methods. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, we evaluated the effect of a 2-year treatment with nandrolone decanoate (ND) on bone mineral density (BMD) of lumbar spine, femoral neck, and trochanter and on vertebral fracture rate, muscle mass, and hemoglobin levels. Sixty-five osteoporotic women older than 70 years were studied. Thirty-two patients received injections of 50 mg ND, and 33 received placebos every 3 weeks. All patients received 500 mg calcium tablets daily. Results. Compared to baseline, ND increased the BMD of the lumbar spine (3.4% ± 6.0 and 3.7% ± 7.4; p