[The effects of the carbocalcitonin + arginine-lysine-lactose combination in senile involutional osteoporosis]

Numerous osteometabolic factors are implicated in the bone mass loss which occurs with ageing. Among these a significant role is played by the impairment of intestinal calcium absorption which may be attributed in the elderly to various factors such as the reduction of chlorhydro-peptic secretion, the correlated deficiency of vitamin D and their relative duodenal receptors. In order to evaluate the clinical efficacy of an arginine-lysine-lactose preparation a group of 40 subjects with senile involutional osteoporosis was studied. The subjects were divided into two groups using random criteria and were treated with carbocalcitonin alone (40 UMRC day i.m. on alternative days) or carbocalcitonin association complex. The following parameters were evaluated in basal conditions and after six months of treatment: bone mass density (BMD) using computerised bone mineralometry, bone pain, intake of analgesics, serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, parathormone, as well as calciuria and hydroxyprolinuria. The comparison between the two groups shows a more marked increment in BMD in subjects treated with arginine-lysine-lactose, a greater reduction in painful symptoms, and a more evident and significant reduction of parathormone and hydroxyprolinuria levels. These effects appear to be due to a distinct improvement in intestinal calcium absorption mediated by lysine and lactose, and probably to a positive action played by the amino acid at the level of support structures.