Effects of salmon calcitonin treatment on serum and synovial fluid bone formation and resorption markers in osteoporosis patients

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of salmon calcitonin, and calcium and vitamin D treatment on bone mineral density, serum and synovial fluid bone formation and resorption markers in patients with osteoporosis. Methods: The study was completed with twenty-five osteoporosis patients divided into two groups: The 15 patients comprising Group I (1 male and 14 females; mean age: 67.0+/-12.0) were administered calcitonin treatment in addition to calcium and vitamin D. The 10 patients in Group II (3 males and 7 females; mean age 68.0+/-16.0) were administered calcium and vitamin D only. Serum and synovial fluid calcium phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, calcitonin, C-telopeptide (CTx), N-telopeptide (NTx) and sialoprotein levels, and bone densitometries were determined at the beginning and at the end of one year of treatment. Results: In the calcitonin and calcium and vitamin D treatment group (Group I), femoral neck density scores were decreased and vertebrae scores were increased after one-year treatment. Both scores were increased in the non-calcitonin group (Group II). In Group I, synovial fluid levels of calcitonin, sialoprotein and NTx were decreased, and synovial fluid CTx levels showed no change. The only decrease that was statistically significant was that in calcitonin levels. In Group II, synovial fluid calcitonin levels were decreased, synovial fluid CTx levels were increased and synovial fluid NTx and sialoprotein level were unchanged. These changes were not statistically significant. Serum changes in the parameters were not statistically significant in either group. Conclusion: In osteoporosis, salmon calcitonin treatment affects synovial fluid bone formation and absorption marker levels. Advanced studies are needed to evaluate the mechanisms by which this takes place, and to explain the relationship between osteoporosis and articular cartilage metabolism.