Parathyroid hormone as a therapy for idiopathic osteoporosis in men: effects on bone mineral density and bone markers

What Was Tested

This randomized controlled trial paper looks at Parathyroid Hormone (PTH 1-84) in the context of osteoporosis and bone density.

Osteoporosis in men poses a unique therapeutic challenge.

Clinical studies have focused largely on the more prevalent problem of post-menopausal osteoporosis, with few gender-specific studies exploring treatment options in men.

Who Took Part

The abstract describes 23 men taking part.

PubMed indexes the participants as adults, middle-aged adults and older adults, both men and women.

How the Study Was Run

The design is described as randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled.

Because people in this Parathyroid Hormone (PTH 1-84) study were split into groups at random, differences between the groups are less likely to reflect who happened to join each one.

Blinding on both sides kept the men and researchers unaware of who received Parathyroid Hormone (PTH 1-84).

The comparison arm used a placebo, so changes seen with Parathyroid Hormone (PTH 1-84) could be set against what happens without it.

Serum and urinary biochemistries, including markers of bone turnover were measured every 3 months.

What Was Measured

Topics PubMed links to this paper include Biomarkers, Bone Density, Bone and Bones, Osteoporosis, Parathyroid Hormone, Peptide Fragments and Radiography.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of Parathyroid Hormone (PTH 1-84) in 23 men in people with osteoporosis and bone density.

With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.

The publication is from 2000 (The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism), a journal based in United States.

More context: the Parathyroid Hormone (PTH 1-84) compound page, Osteoporosis and bone density research.