Ipriflavone influences the osteoblastic phenotype in vitro

Efficacy of ipriflavone and 1 alpha vitamin D therapy for the cessation of vertebral bone loss

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated whether a combined regimen of ipriflavone and 1 alpha vitamin D is effective in stopping postmenopausal bone loss.

METHODS

Ninety-eight postmenopausal women were recruited and randomly assigned to one of four groups: group 1, ipriflavone alone; group 2, 1 alpha vitamin D alone; group 3, combined regimen of ipriflavone and 1 alpha vitamin D; group 4, no treatment. Vertebral bone mineral density, measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, serum alkaline phosphatase, calcitonin, parathyroid hormone, osteocalcin, urinary calcium and hydroxyproline were measured before and at the 6th, 12th and 18th month of the study. All comparisons were made using Student's t-test of means.

RESULT

There was a significant reduction in vertebral bone loss in the patients receiving the combined therapy (mean loss after 18 months 0.33% in the combination group vs. 2.37%, 1.15% and 3.70% in the ipriflavone alone, 1 alpha vitamin D alone, and control groups, respectively; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that the combined regimen could prevent postmenopausal bone loss.

New treatment strategies: ipriflavone, strontium, vitamin D metabolites and analogs

Drugs used to treat osteoporosis can be grouped in two main categories: those that decrease bone resorption and those that increase bone formation. Antiresorptive drugs are active in preventing bone fractures in patients characterized by a negative calcium balance. However, because antiresorptive agents are often coupled to inhibition of bone formation, inhibitors of bone resorption may not be candidates as potential curative drugs in osteoporosis. Conversely, drugs that act by increasing bone formation produce an increase in bone mass above the fracture threshold; therefore, these agents are good candidates for the treatment of osteoporosis. The ideal curative drug in osteoporosis should have the ability both to decrease bone resorption and to maintain a relatively high rate of bone formation, thus inducing a favorable uncoupling of bone remodeling.