BACKGROUND/AIMS

This study aimed to examine the alterations on metabolic changes in lipid levels and osteoporosis caused by alendronate (ALN) and strontium ranelate (SR) since shared biological linkages have great importance for new insights. Therefore, the treatments given for osteoporosis may also have a protective role against cardiovascular events.

MATERIAL and METHODS

In this retrospective study, 713 postmenopausal Turkish women were recruited. Biochemichal laboratory results and lipid parameters were recorded from the medical records of the patients. The lumbar spine (L1-L4), total femur (TF), and femoral neck (FN) were assessed for bone mineral density (BMD). Two hundred and sixty-three women were non-osteoporotic while 450 women were osteoporotic. Among the 450 osteoporotic women, 322 used ALN and 128 used SR. For each group, TF Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), FN DEXA and L1-L4 DEXA results and lipid changes were compared after 12-months treatment.

RESULTS

Patients who were given ALN showed significant improvement in the BMD measurement of L1-L4 and FN, but not in the results of TF DEXA. Significant changes similar to ALN were found in patients who were given SR. Patients using ALN had significantly higher levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL). The SR group did not show marked lipid profile changes.

CONCLUSION

We demonstrated that osteoporosis in postmenopausal women may be related to atherosclerosis. ALN treatment has an enhancing effect on HDL levels; however, no effect was observed on serum lipid levels after SR treatment.

Keywords: Osteoporosis, lipid metabolism, alendronate, strontium ranelate