A new analysis from Finland suggests that medications prescribed to strengthen thinning bones don’t help prevent hip fractures in the elderly.
Researchers led by a team at the University of Helsinki reviewed previously published studies that concerned the efficacy of drugs to prevent osteoporosis and hip fractures.
The investigators found that benefit from the drugs was “marginal at best” and that “the better the response to the treatment [in any one] study, the more flaws the study had,” said research team leader Teppo Järvinen. One notable concern was that most studies focused on younger individuals even though most hip fractures occur in those over age 80.
Only three studies had been conducted in people over 80 and none of those studies found that the drugs prevented hip fractures, the researchers reported. They concluded that the use of drugs to strengthen thinning bones couldn’t be justified to prevent hip fractures since falls or other accidents are the real cause of these breaks.
The researchers added that determining whether a senior has a balance disorder, rather than bone density measurements, gives a more accurate understanding of his or her fracture risk.
More information:
The late Dr John Lee did much of his early work on bioidentical progesterone on patients with osteoporosis and often at quite an advanced age they reported improved bone density in their annual scans, though often their doctors were sceptical. Dr Shirley Bond herself suffers from osteoporosis and advocates the use of progesterone to protect the bones and assist in in bone building as her article below indicates.
Women need both oestrogen and progesterone as it is oestrogen that clears away old bone but it is progesterone that is essential for bone building and renewal so you have stronger bones.
The new research builds on previously known potential health problems with alendronic acid and drugs such as Fosamax having been reported in the media since 2011. Particularly digestive problems, oesophageal ulceration and the increased risk of arterial fibrillation.
If you would like to know more, then the late Dr John Lee’s book ‘What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Osteoporosis’ will be very informative.
https://www.bio-hormone-health.com/2012/11/23/how-much-progesterone-do-i-need-for-osteoporosis/ by Dr Shirley Bond
https://www.bio-hormone-health.com/2010/03/15/what-is-osteoporosis/
https://www.bio-hormone-health.com/2014/08/04/dont-ignore-the-4-main-myths-about-osteoporosis/
https://www.bio-hormone-health.com/2011/01/24/fda-issues-new-warning-on-long-term-use-of-osteoporosis-drugs/