The efficacy and tolerability of once-weekly alendronate 70 mg on bone mineral density and bone turnover markers in postmenopausal Chinese women with osteoporosis

Osteoporosis has become an important health problem in postmenopausal Chinese women. Bisphosphonates currently are the preferred therapy for treating osteoporosis. However, the use of daily regimen of alendronate in women at risk for osteoporosis has been relatively low in China because of its dosing inconvenience. To determine the efficacy and tolerability of once-weekly alendronate 70 mg in Chinese, a multicenter, randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study was performed in China. Five hundred and sixty postmenopausal women (≤85 years old) with osteoporosis were randomly assigned to receive either alendronate 70 mg or placebo once-weekly for 12 months. All women received calcium 500 mg daily and vitamin D 200 IU daily. A significant increase in lumbar spine BMD was already evident at 6 months of alendronate treatment (P < 0.001). The alendronate group showed significant increase (P < 0.001) in BMD at 12 months at both the spine and hip when compared with the placebo group (lumbar spine 4.87% vs. 0.4%, femoral neck 2.47% vs. 0.31%, trochanter 3.24% vs. 0.78%, total hip 2.56% vs. 0.28%, respectively). The percentage of women with ≥0% and ≥3% BMD increase in lumbar spine was significantly greater in women with alendronate than placebo (P < 0.001). Significant reduction in urine N-telopeptide (NTx) and serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase were evident at 6 and 12 months, respectively, with alendronate treatment. No significant differences in the incidence of adverse experiences and upper gastrointestinal adverse experiences were seen. We conclude that once-weekly alendronate 70 mg is an effective and well-tolerated agent for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis in Chinese women.