Comparison of alendronate, calcitonin and calcium treatments in postmenopausal osteoporosis.

The present study was planned to assess the safety, tolerability and efficacy on bone mineral density (BMD), pain, quality of life and fracture risk of alendronate, calcitonin and calcium treatments. A total of 151 postmenopausal women with lumbar spine BMD 2 SD or more below the young adult mean were randomly assigned to one of three groups: 51 patients received oral alendronate 10 mg and calcium 1000 mg (alendronate group), 50 patients intranasal salmon calcitonin 100 IU and oral calcium 1000 mg (calcitonin group), and 50 patients oral calcium 1000 mg (calcium group) daily for one year. BMD was assessed by dual energy X-ray absorbtiometry, pain by a visual analogue scale, and quality of life by the Nottingham health profile. Significant increases in BMD at all sites were obtained in the calcitonin and alendronate groups, but not in the calcium group. Pain and quality of life improved significantly in both the calcitonin and alendronate groups, but not in the calcium group. New vertebral fractures were seen in 31.58% of the alendronate, 37.5% of the calcitonin, and 40% of the calcium groups, representing no statistical difference. No serious side-effects were seen in any of the patients during follow-up.