The effect of Vitamin D(3)addition on bone mineral density in postmenopausal hormone replacement

Yoo, Sun Won; Jo, Hyun Hee; Yeo, Kyeong A; Lew, Young Ok; Kwon, Dong Jin; Chung, Gi Wook; Kim, Jang Heub; Kim, Jin Hong

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of the addition of Vit. D3 (1,25-Dihydroxychole calciferol D3) to the conventional postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy on bone mineral density(BMD) DESIGN: A 2-year retrospective , randomized study Setting : Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Catholic university hospital Patients : 388 postmenopausal women were recruited and divided into 5 groups according to treatment regimen; A: conjugated estrogens only treated group(n=146), B : conjugated estrogens and progesterone treated group(n=103), C : conjugated estrogens and Vit.D3 treated group (n=36), D : conjugated estrogens, progesterone and Vit.D3 treated group (n=41), E : control group (n=60).
METHODS
The bone mineral density of the lumbar spines and femoral neck were determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry(DEXA) every 2 years. STATISTICS: The difference between before and after treatment was determined by paired t-test. The comparison among the groups were determined by one way ANOVA test and student's t-test.
RESULTS
The addition of progesterone to estrogen showed insignificant increase in the lumbar and femoral neck BMD. The addition of Vit. D3 compared with conventional hormone replacement therapy insignificantly influened bone density in women with initially normal BMD, but definitely increase in women with initially osteopenic and osteoporotic BMD of femoral neck rather than lumar spine(p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
The use of Vit. D3 combined with postmenopausal estrogen replacement effects the increase of BMD in low bone density than normal bone density, especially femoral neck.