Osteoporosis is a condition that weakens our bones and makes them more prone to fractures. It is commonly associated with older women, but did you know that men can also develop osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis
The word osteoporosis means ‘porous bone’. It is a condition characterized by excessive bone breakdown and inadequate new bone formation resulting in weak spongy bones that are at a greater risk of pathological fractures.
Postmenopausal women are typically affected by this condition however, osteoporosis in men is an important but underappreciated public health problem. Approximately one in four men over 50 years of age will incur a fragility fracture in their lifetime, with men accounting for up to 30% of the societal burden of osteoporosis and fractures.
Abaloparatide-SC is a medication designed to strengthen bones in individuals with osteoporosis. It belongs to a class of drugs called parathyroid hormone-related protein analogs. This treatment has already shown significant benefits in women with osteoporosis, but its effects in osteoporotic men are yet to be determined.
Clinical Trial
A clinical trial conducted by a team of scientists has uncovered a promising treatment called Abaloparatide-SC that can potentially improve the bone health of men suffering from osteoporosis. The trial involved 228 men aged 40 to 85 years suffering from osteoporosis. Of these, 149 participants received daily subcutaneous injections of abaloparatide 80 μg for 12 months while 79 participants received a placebo (a clinically ineffective drug) during this period.
The changes in bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine, hip, and femoral neck were measured at the end of 12 months of treatment.
Results
The results of the clinical trial were very promising. The researchers found that men who received Abaloparatide-SC experienced a significant increase in bone mineral density (BMD) compared to those who received the placebo.