Effect of Alendronate and Calcitriol on Bone Strength in Rats
Author Information
Author(s): Nakamura Yoshinari, Naito Masatoshi, Hayashi Kazuo, Fotovati Abbas, Abu-Ali Samah
Primary Institution: Fukuoka University School of Medicine
Hypothesis
The combination of alendronate and vitamin D3 would facilitate greater improvements in bone mass and strength at the femoral neck than either intervention alone.
Conclusion
The combined treatment with alendronate and calcitriol significantly improved bone fragility of the femoral neck in ovariectomized osteopenic rats.
Supporting Evidence
- Saline-treated OVX rats showed significant decreases in total bone mineral content and density compared to the sham-control group.
- The combined treatment significantly improved the fracture load at the femoral neck in OVX rats to the level of the sham-controls.
- Total BMC and cortical BMC were positively correlated with femoral neck strength.
Takeaway
Researchers tested two medicines on rats to see if they could make their bones stronger. The combination worked better than either medicine alone.
Methodology
Thirty 12-week-old female rats were divided into groups and treated with saline, alendronate, calcitriol, or both for 12 weeks, followed by mechanical testing of femoral neck strength.
Limitations
The study had a modest number of rats, and a baseline control group was not included for comparison.
Participant Demographics
30 female Wistar rats, 12 weeks old.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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