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Abstract
The suggestion that norethisterone acetate (NETA) stimulates bone formation prompted
us to investigate calcium and bone metabolism in post-menopausal women treated with
a continuous combination of oestrogen and NETA. The study included 49 healthy post-menopausal
women. After an initial examination the women were randomly allocated to 2 yr of treatment
with either hormones or placebo; 43 women completed the study.
Within the first year of treatment the hormone group showed a slight, but significant,
increase in bone mineral content in the forearms (single photon absorptiometry) and
in the total skeleton (dual photon absorptiometry). After this initial increase the
bone mass remained constant throughout the trial. Bone mineral density of the spine
(dual photon absorptiometry) showed a significant increase of more than 5% in the
hormone group. There were significant decreases of 4–7% in bone mass in the placebo
group over 2 yr. Biochemical estimates of bone turnover (plasma bone Gla protein,
serum alkaline phosphatase, fasting urinary calcium and fasting urinary hydroxyproline)
fell significantly in the hormone group, but remained unchanged in the placebo group.
We conclude that continuous administration of NETA in combination with oestrogen provides
effective prophylaxis against post-menopausal bone loss, although it does not produce
a persistent positive calcium balance in early post-menopausal women.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
January 20,
1988
Received in revised form:
November 20,
1987
Received:
August 17,
1987
Identification
Copyright
© 1988 Published by Elsevier Inc.
