The prevention and management of post-menopausal osteoporosis

In 6 groups of peri- and post-menopausal women, there was an inverse relation between the urinary sediment smear maturation value and the fasting urinary hydroxyproline/creatinine ratio. Administration of ethinyloestradiol and Progynova both reduced urinary hydroxyproline into the pre-menopausal range, the fall being proportional to the starting value. Oestrogen therapy also produced a significant fall in plasma ionised calcium. In a prospective trial, oestrogen therapy prevented post-menopausal bone loss but calcium therapy was less effective. It is suggested that a high fasting urinary hydroxyproline/creatinine ratio might be taken as an indication for oestrogen therapy in post-menopausal women. In established post-menopausal osteoporosis, pre-disposing risk factors appear to be low calcium intake, malabsorption of calcium and low oestrogen status. These patients appear to represent the fast bone-losers in the post-menopausal population. The accelerated bone loss can be wholly or partially corrected by hormone replacement therapy and by calcium supplements given to those with normal absorption only. These therapies also prevent loss of height due to further crush fractures. The malabsorption of calcium is very resistant to vitamin D therapy but responds to 1alpha-OHD3. Balance data suggest that the most effective therapy may be a combination of 1alpha-OHD3 with oestrogen.