Sustained-Release Fluoride Significantly Reduces Risk For Vertebral Fractures.(Brief Article)

2001 NOV 15 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas have found that using sustained-release sodium fluoride with calcium citrate and vitamin D safely reduces the risk for vertebral fractures while increasing spinal bone mass in older women with osteoporosis.

The 42-month study, published in Archives of Internal Medicine, followed 85 women who were 65 years and older and had one or more nontraumatic vertebral fractures. The researchers sought to determine the safety and effectiveness of treating established osteoporosis in older women by using a bone-forming agent.

"The efficacy of sodium fluoride therapy has been debated in a previous study, which promulgated the thought that fluoride only makes weaker bone but not strong bone," said Dr. Craig Rubin, director of the Mildred Wyatt and Ivor P. Wold Center for Geriatric Care at UT Southwestern.

"Our study showed that this combination of therapy safely reduces the risk for vertebral fractures by stimulating new bone formation by fluoride-mediated increased osteoblastic (bone-forming cell) activity. In addition, the adequate provision of calcium and vitamin D reduces bone resorption."

Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by the loss of bone mass and poor bone quality. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, more than 28 million Americans suffer from this disease, which causes bones to become fragile and susceptible to fractures, especially in the hip, spine and wrist. Eighty percent of those afflicted are women.

"Since age-related bone loss is caused by decreased bone formation and altered calcium metabolism, we incorporated an anabolic agent to stimulate osteoblastic activity and adequate calcium and vitamin D to blunt secondary hyperparathyroidism and reduce mobilization of calcium from the skeleton," said Rubin.

A group of women with multiple medical problems were specifically selected to mimic a typical outpatient population of older women with osteoporosis. Women who were taking ...