Pharmacological research : the official journal of the Italian Pharmacological Society
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Effect of supplementation of calcium and vitamin D on bone mineral density and bone mineral content in peri- and post-menopause women; a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial.
Osteoporosis is a serious global health problem for the future, that is why improving diagnostic methods and prevention of this disease could be helpful. ⋯ The effect of calcium and Vitamin D supplementation on bone mineral density of calcium has been demonstrated in this group of young adult women. Our results showed the positive effect of calcium and Vitamin D supplementation in women both peri- and post-menopausal status; for this reason a supplementation of calcium and Vitamin D should be recommended as a strategic option in helping to prevent early postmenopausal bone loss.
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The pharmacokinetics of methadone varies greatly from person to person; so, after the administration of the same dose, considerably different concentrations are obtained in different subjects, and the pharmacological effect may be too small in some patients, too strong and prolonged in others. Methadone is mostly metabolised in the liver; the main step consists in the N-demethylation by CYP3A4 to EDDP (2-ethylidene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine), an inactive metabolite. The activity of CYP3A4 varies considerably among individuals, and such variability is the responsible for the large differences in methadone bioavailability. ⋯ Buprenorphine, too, is metabolised by CYP3A4, and may undergo the same interactions as methadone. Since it is impossible to foresee the time-lapse from the administration of another drug to the appearing of withdrawal symptoms, nor how much the daily dose of methadone should be increased in order to prevent them, patients taking combined drug treatments must be carefully monitored. The so far known pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions of methadone do not have life-threatening consequences for the patients, but they usually cause a decrease of the concentrations and of the effects of the drug, which in turn can cause symptoms of withdrawal and increase the risk of relapse into heroin abuse.