[Effects of ipriflavone on bone loss induced by GnRH analog]

The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between GnRH analogues and ipriflavone, drug modulating the bone turnover limiting the negative bone effects of analogue. Thirty patients (33 +/- 5.4 years, mean +/- SD) affect by benign gynecological conditions in which there was an indication to use GnRH analogs have been treated with leuprolide acetate at the monthly intramuscular dose of 3.75 mg, for six months. Fifteen of these patients also received 600 mg/day per os of ipriflavone (group A), while the other 15 patients have been treated exclusively with leuprolide acetate (group B). Before and after treatment, radial bone mineral density (BMD) and main markers of bone turnover were measured in all patients. Before treatment no difference in the considered parameters could be detected between the two groups. In group A, after 6 months of treatment no significant decrease in BMD and no variations in the bone turnover parameters. On the contrary, in group B, after six months of treatment, a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in BMD was observed in comparison to basal and group A values. In the same group alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin and urinary calcium/creatinine and hydroxyproline/creatinine ratio proved significantly increased in comparison to basal and group A values (both with p < 0.05). Ipriflavone, therefore, seems to be effective in counteracting the negative effects of GnRH-a induced on bone.