Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2025

Assessment of the Efficacy of An Osteopathic Treatment in Infants with Biomechanical Impairments to Suckling
Published on: February 5, 2019
Comparative Effectiveness of Therapeutic Interventions in Pregnancy and Lactation-Associated Osteoporosis: A
Panagiotis Anagnostis1, Kalliopi Lampropoulou-Adamidou2, Julia K Bosdou3
1Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology, 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 56403, Greece.
Context:
The optimal management of pregnancy and lactation-associated osteoporosis (PLO) has not been designated.
Objective:
To systematically review the best available evidence regarding the effect of different therapeutic interventions on bone mineral density (BMD) and risk of fractures in these patients.
Methods:
A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed/Scopus databases until December 20, 2022. Data were expressed as weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% CI. The I2 index was employed for heterogeneity. Studies conducted in women with PLO who received any antiosteoporosis therapy were included. Studies including women with secondary causes of osteoporosis or with transient osteoporosis of the hip were excluded. Data extraction was independently completed by 2 researchers.
Results:
Sixty-six studies were included in the qualitative analysis (n = 451 [follow-up time range 6-264 months; age range 19-42 years]). The increase in lumbar spine (LS) BMD with calcium/vitamin D (CaD), bisphosphonates, and teriparatide was 2.0% to 7.5%, 5.0% to 41.5%, and 8.0% to 24.4% at 12 months, and 11.0% to 12.2%, 10.2% to 171.9%, and 24.1% to 32.9% at 24 months, respectively. Femoral neck (FN) BMD increased by 6.1% with CaD, and by 0.7% to 18% and 8.4% to 18.6% with bisphosphonates and teriparatide (18-24 months), respectively. Meta-analysis was performed for 2 interventional studies only. Teriparatide induced a greater increase in LS and FN BMD than CaD (WMD 11.5%, 95% CI 4.9-18.0%, I2 50.9%, and 5.4%, 95% CI 1.2-9.6%, I2 8.1%, respectively).
Conclusion:
Due to high heterogeneity and lack of robust comparative data, no safe conclusions can be made regarding the optimal therapeutic intervention in women with PLO.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling
Hormones 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...
Study Designs in Epidemiology
Observational studies are those where the researcher does not intervene but rather observes natural variations. They include cross-sectional, cohort, and...
Teratogenicity
Hormonal Control of the Ovarian Cycle
Before puberty, the hypothalamus releases GnRH in a low frequency, low amplitude pulsatile manner. This along with the immature hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis activity, results in low estrogen levels and the absence of a fully functional ovarian cycle. At puberty, GnRH secretion increases in both frequency and...
Bone 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...

