• T Matsumoto, H Hagino, M Shiraki, M Fukunaga, T Nakano, K Takaoka, H Morii, Y Ohashi, and T Nakamura.
• Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Sciences, University of Tokushima Graduate School of Medical Science, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan. toshimat@clin.med.tokushima-u.ac.jp
• Osteoporos Int. 2009 Aug 1; 20 (8): 1429-37.

UnlabelledSUMMARY; A randomized placebo-controlled trial was conducted to examine the effect of daily oral 1 mg minodronate on vertebral fractures in 704 postmenopausal women with established osteoporosis for 24 months. Minodronate treatment reduced vertebral fractures by 59% without serious adverse events. Minodronate is a safe and effective bisphosphonate for osteoporosis treatment.IntroductionMinodronate increases bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal osteoporotic patients. However, its efficacy in reducing osteoporotic fractures has not been tested.MethodsTo examine anti-fracture efficacy and safety of daily oral minodronate in postmenopausal women with established osteoporosis, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in 704 postmenopausal women (55 to 80 years) with one to five vertebral fractures and low BMD. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive daily oral 1 mg minodronate (n = 359) or placebo (n = 345) for 24 months, with daily supplements of 600 mg calcium and 200 IU vitamin D(3).ResultsDaily 1 mg minodronate for 24 months reduced the risk of vertebral fractures by 59% (95% CI, 36.6-73.3%). Furthermore, when fractures during the first 6 months were eliminated, the risk of vertebral fractures from 6 to 24 months was reduced by 74% in minodronate-treated group. Minodronate treatment also reduced height loss. Bone turnover markers were suppressed by about 50% after 6 months of minodronate treatment and remained suppressed thereafter. The overall safety profile including gastrointestinal safety was similar between the two groups.ConclusionsDaily oral minodronate is safe, well-tolerated, and is effective in reducing vertebral fracture risk in postmenopausal women with established osteoporosis.

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