NASAL CALCITONIN FOR TREATMENT OF ESTABLISHED OSTEOPOROSIS

Abstract

Thirty-seven women with established osteoporosis completed a one-year double-blind, placebo-controlled study with the primary aim of examining the effect of nasal salmon calcitonin (200 IU daily) on bone and calcium metabolism. All the women received a daily calcium supplement of 500 mg. For comparison we also report data from an age-matched group of healthy women who did not receive calcium supplementation. The bone mineral measured in the forearm (single photon absorptiometry) and spine (dual photon absorptiometry) showed a similar pattern during treatment. The calcitonin group (n = 17) did not lose bone mineral in comparison with the placebo (n = 20) and the control groups (n = 19) (P < 0.01). The biochemical estimates of both bone resorption and bone formation decreased highly significantly in the calcitonin group (P < 0.001) and were unchanged in the control group, whereas the placeo (calcium) group showed intermediate values. Neither subjective nor objective side-effects occurred in any of the groups. We conclude that nasal calcitonin is a realistic treatment of established osteoporosis.