[The impact of statin therapy on bone density changes in postmenopausal women]

Generalised use of statins in primary and secondary prevention of ischemic heart disease has led in recent years to the discovery ofa number of other "pleiotropic" effects ofstatins. One of them is the effect ofstatins on bone metabolism. The objective of the study was to monitor bone density, bone turnover markers and basic biochemical parameters in a group of postmenopausal women at regular intervals for a period of 2 years. The monitoring allowed for an assessment of the effect of statin therapy on those parameters. Statin therapy safety was also monitored. According to expectations, the group receiving active treatment recorded a decrease in the levels of total cholesterol, as well as LDL-cholesterol, and a mild decrease in the level of triacylglycerols. However, no significant difference in bone density in any of the measured regions (NECK, TROCH, SHAFT) was found when the trends in bone density parameters were compared for the two groups, nor there was a significant change in the respective T-scores. There was no significant difference with respect to the markers of bone formation or the markers of bone resorption between the group with active treatment and the control group. The results correspond to inconsistent data from the performed and quoted retrospective and prospective studies.