Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 26, 2026
Mouse Lumbar Vertebra Uniaxial Compression Testing with Embedding of the Loading Surface
Published on: December 1, 2023
Can the increase of bone mineral density following bisphosphonates treatments be explained by biomechanical
Dominique P Pioletti1, Lalao R Rakotomanana
1Bone Bioengineering Group, STI/BIO-E/CRO, Center for Orthopedic Research, Bat. AAB, EPFL, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland. dominique.pioletti@epfl.ch
Objective:
We hypothesized that bone mineral density increase following bisphosphonates treatments may be explained by the influence of the drug on the mechanical bone remodeling parameters.
Background:
Patients treated with bisphosphonates continuously increase their bone mineral density. This increase is explained in the first 12-18 months following the treatment by the filling of the transient remodeling deficit. Recently, results of a clinical study of alendronate treatment over 7 years still show a continuous increase of bone mineral density. These results raised several questions regarding our understanding of bisphosphonates mode of action.
Methods:
Bone remodeling is influenced by different factors including mechanical forces. In the present study, we propose then to consider the effect of bisphosphonates also under biomechanical considerations.
Results:
Identification of the model with the clinical data showed that daily treatment of 10 and 20 mg alendronate decreased the bone turnover rate by 2% and 11%, respectively, in comparison with the 5 mg alendronate treatment. Moreover, the alendronate treatments decreases the resorption threshold stimulus by 19% (25%, 28%) for the 5 mg (10 and 20 mg, respectively) compared to placebo.
Conclusions:
The increase of bone mineral density following bisphosphonates treatment may then be explained by biomechanical considerations. Based on this description, bisphosphonates treatment may indeed change the susceptibility of bone to its biomechanical environment decreasing the mechanical threshold where bone should undergo resorption.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Bone Disorders
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
01:40Bone Remodeling
01:31Bone Remodeling and Repair
01:17Hormones and Bone Tissue
Hormones That Influence Osteoblasts and/or Maintain the Matrix
Several hormones are necessary for controlling bone growth and maintaining the bone matrix. The pituitary gland secretes growth hormone (GH), which, as its name implies, controls bone growth. This happens in several ways: first, it triggers chondrocyte...
01:31Essential Minerals for Bone Health
Calcium and Phosphorus
Calcium is a critical component of bones, especially in the form of calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate. Since the body cannot make calcium, it must be obtained from the diet. However, calcium cannot be absorbed from the small intestine without...
01:25Role of Vitamins in Maintaining Bone Health
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is involved in the process of bone remodeling. Retinoic acid, the active metabolite of Vitamin A, has nuclear receptors in osteoblasts and osteoclasts, which are involved in bone remodeling.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 acts as a cofactor during the formation of osteoblast-related proteins, such as osteocalcin. Vitamin B12 plays a role...