Aloia J F, Zanzi I, Vaswani A, Ellis K, Cohn S H
J Am Geriatr Soc. 1982 Jan;30(1):13-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1982.tb03698.x.
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.
