The effects of calcitriol therapy on serum interleukin-1, interleukin-6 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha concentrations in post-menopausal patients with osteoporosis


Inanir A., Ozoran K., Tutkak H., Mermerci B.

JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL RESEARCH, vol.32, no.6, pp.570-582, 2004 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 32 Issue: 6
  • Publication Date: 2004
  • Doi Number: 10.1177/147323000403200602
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL RESEARCH
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.570-582
  • Keywords: calcitriol, vitamin D, osteoporosis, post-menopausal women, interleukin-1, interleukin-6, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY, BLOOD MONONUCLEAR-CELLS, VITAMIN-D, BONE LOSS, ESTROGEN REPLACEMENT, CYTOKINE PRODUCTION, IFN-GAMMA, TNF-ALPHA, WOMEN, CALCIUM
  • Ankara University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Seventy post-menopausal women with osteoporosis were randomized into two groups: 40 patients received calcitriol (0.5 mug/day) and calcium (1000 mg/day); and 30 control patients received calcium (1000 mg/day) alone. Thirty healthy women formed the healthy control group. Bone mineral density (BMD) and serum interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6 and tumour necrosis factor-a (TNF-alpha) concentrations were measured at baseline and after 6 months of treatment. Calcitriol treatment for 6 months significantly increased BMD and reduced serum IL-1 and TNF-alpha concentrations compared with no significant changes in patients treated with calcium alone. Both treatments increased serum calcium and decreased parathyroid hormone concentrations. The healthy control group had a significantly lower IL-6 concentration than the post-menopausal women with osteoporosis. We have shown that calcitriol was an effective treatment for osteoporosis. Significant reductions in serum IL-1 and TNF-a concentrations suggest that, in addition to increasing the absorption of calcium, calcitriol may directly affect bone metabolism via cytokines.