The Effect of Calcium Supplements on Plasma Alkaline Phosphatase and Urinary Hydroxyproline in Postmenopausal Women

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Although calcium supplements are widely used in the treatment of osteoporosis, their beneficial effect is not conclusively established. We now report some effects of a calcium supplement (1 g/day) given for 6 to 12 weeks to 15 postmenopausal osteoporotic women. The mean fasting urinary hydroxyproline/creatinine ratio decreased from 0.021 ± 0.002 to 0.015 ± 0.001 (P < 0.0025), indicating a significant reduction in bone resorption. The mean plasma alkaline phosphatase fell from 123 ± 5 U/l to 104 ± 3.1 U/l (P < 0.01), probably representing some secondary reduction in bone formation following the inhibition of bone resorption. These results support the concept that calcium supplementation is useful in the treatment of post-menopausal osteoporosis.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: