Sustained-release sodium fluoride in combination with calcium citrate and vitamin D can safely reduce the risk of fractures and increase spinal bone mass in older women with osteoporosis, a recent study from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center concluded.
Our study showed that this combination of therapy safely reduces the risk for fractures by stimulating new bone formation by fluoride-mediated increased osteoblastic activity. In addition, the adequate provision of calcium and vitamin D reduces bone resorption.More than 28 million Americans suffer from osteoporosis, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation. Eighty percent of those afflicted are women.The UT researchers set out to determine the safety and efficacy of treating osteoporosis using sodium fluoride as a bone-forming agent over the course of a 42-month study that followed 85 women who were 65 years and older and had one or more nontraumatic fractures.
The study group was treated with sustained-release sodium fluoride combined with calcium citrate and vitamin D while a control group received the calcium citrate and vitamin D combination alone.After three treatment cycles, bone-mineral density increased by 5.4 percent in the study group vs. 3.2 percent in the control group. Analysis of spinal fracture data also showed a 68 percent reduction in new or recurrent fractures in the study group compared with the control group.
