[Observations on bone mineral metabolism in natural and surgical menopause. Role of synthetic salmon calcitonin and calcium on bone turnover]

Loss of bone mass is a process which generally becomes manifest in women during the fourth decade of life and is considerably accelerated following the onset of menopause, especially if this in surgically induced. Bone mineral metabolism was studied in 104 women, subdivided into the following groups: group 1: 33 women with normal menstrual cycles; group 2: 30 women in pre-menopause; group 3: 38 women who had undergone ovariectomy but had not received any osteotrope treatment; group 4: 33 ovariectomised women who had been treated immediately after surgery with calcium (1 g/die per os) in addition to synthetic salmon calcitonin nasal spray (100 IU on alternate days). Patients in groups 2-4 were analysed on entry into the study (time 0) and after 6 and 12 months of menopause (natural or surgical) using biochemical tests (alkaline phosphatase, calcium and phosphorus metabolism, PTH and osteocalcin) and by calculating bone mineral content (BMC) using a single photon ray performed at 3 cm and 8 cm from the styloid apophysis of the radius. The groups were matched for age, body mass index, dietary and sexual habits, geographic area. The results obtained can be summarised as follows: a) the concentrations of the main biochemical parameters were found to be normal and substantially similar between all groups at time 0; however, after 12 months increments relating to alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin were significantly higher in ovariectomised women who did not receive treatment compared to ovariectomised patients treated with calcium + calcitonin, thus indicating a lower bone turnover in the latter group. b) BMC values, measured at the distal radius.