Older women (Photo : Reuters/Juan Carlos Ulate )
A study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine has found that a single dose of the osteoporosis drug Reclast (zoledronic acid) could improve bone mineral density in frail, older women, Philly reported.
Osteoporosis can lead to painful fractures. Some of the risk factors for osteoporosis include low sex hormones or menopause, medications, low body weight, being female, aging and smoking, according to WebMD.
In the study, scientists looked at 81 women aged between 65 and older with osteoporosis, including women with conditions such as immobility and cognitive impairment. They assigned 89 participants to receive a single 5 milligram dose of zoledronic acid and 92 participants to receive placebo. Calcium and vitamin D supplementation were given to all women on a regular basis.
Hip and spine bone mineral density was measured at 12 and 24 months. It was found that the total hip bone mineral density increased more in the treatment group than in the placebo group at the time of follow-up measurements. Also, the spine bone mineral density increased more in the treatment group than in the placebo group.
However, scientists found no significant difference in the number of deaths, heart problems or fractures among participants who received the placebo or the drug. About 20 percent of the participants who were treated with Reclast had fractures and about 16 percent of the participants who were treated with placebo suffered fractures.
The researchers said that they found that a single infusion of zoledronic acid in cognitively challenged and frail older women decreased bone turnover and enhanced bone density for two years.
