Combination Therapy for Osteoporosis with Estrogen, Fluoride, and Calcium *

Nine women with postmenopausal spinal osteoporosis were treated with combination therapy consisting of estrogen, fluoride, and calcium. Their data were compared with those of a control group treated with fluoride and calcium without estrogen. Bone mass was measured about every six months by photon absorptiometry [bone mineral content/bone width (BMC/BW)] and total‐body neutron activation analysis [total‐body calcium (TB Ca)]. Time‐trend analysis revealed positive slopes for TB Ca (P = 0.002) and BMC/BW (P = N.S.) for the combination therapy group. The change in BMC/BW in the combination therapy group was significantly different from the response in the fluoride‐calcium group. These data suggest that combination therapy may be successful in increasing bone mass in postmenopausal osteoporosis. A clinical trial to establish efficacy and examine risk/benefit ratios should be performed.

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