Aubertin-Leheudre Mylène, Mèlançon Michel O, Chaput Jean-Philippe, Dionne Isabelle J
Research Centre on Aging, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada.
J Women Aging. 2006;18(4):19-29. doi: 10.1300/J074v18n04_03.
Hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) helps to prevent osteoporosis. The effect of short-term discontinuation of a long-term HRT on bone mineral density (BMD) in healthy post-menopausal women is unknown. Fifteen women on HRT (HRT users), 17 who never used HRT (non-users) and 8 former HRT users (past-HRT users) were recruited. BMD was measured by DXA. Our results allow to hypothesize that BMD may decline after short-term HRT discontinuation, which would increase the fracture risks. Indeed, our results show that past-HRT users are osteopenic just as non-users. However, these results should be re-examined using a prospective trial and a larger sample size.