Therapy of osteoporosis: native vitamin D or as hormone? Advantages of activated vitamin D in secondary osteoporosis
Scharla, S.H.
MMW Fortschritte der Medizin 141(31-32): 32-36
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 1438-3276 PMID: 10726119 Document Number: 509895
Vitamin D and its active metabolite (D-Hormone) are major weapons in the therapeutic arsenal available for the treatment of osteoporosis. With regard to native vitamin D, controlled studies have confirmed the prophylactic effect of treatment with vitamin D (+ calcium) in the area of nonvertebral fractures, in particular in elderly women with vitamin D deficiency. The widespread prophylactic use of this form of treatment, which is both inexpensive and largely free of side effects, would presumably save costs by greatly reducing the incidence of fractures of the femur. Treatment with D-hormone (calcitriol) or the pro-hormone 1 alpha-hydroxy-vitamin D (alfacalcidol) is a specific form of treatment of osteoporosis that has been shown to prevent fractures, in particular of the vertebrae, in a number of controlled prospective studies. The D-hormone is of particular value in the treatment of secondary forms of osteoporosis (induced by glucocorticoids or chronic inflammatory disease). Although the incidence of severe side effects is low, monitoring of serum calcium ist nevertheless recommended.