A clinical trial of 3 doses of transdermal 17beta-estradiol for preventing postmenopausal bone loss: a preliminary study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

It is well documented that a daily oral dose of 0.625 mg of conjugated equine estrogen or 1-2 mg of 17beta-estradiol is needed to prevent postmenopausal bone loss. Recent studies have indicated that a lower dose of estrogen maybe as effective in maintaining bone mass. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of 3 dosages of transdermally administered 17beta-estradiol gel in postmenopausal women stratified by oophorectomy and natural menopause.

METHODS:

One hundred and twenty postmenopausal women were randomly selected to form 4 groups. Three groups of women were treated with a transdermal administration of estradiol gel at a daily dosage of 1.25, 2.5 and 5.0 g (containing 0.75, 1.5, and 3 mg of 17beta-estradiol/day), respectively. The 4th group of women, receiving estriol 2 mg/day p.o., was studied concurrently as a control. Bone mineral density was measured by quantitative computed tomography of the vertebrae from T12 to L3 at baseline, then at 6-month intervals for 1 year.

RESULTS:

Women in all groups receiving 17beta-estradiol gel obtained a significant increase in bone mass, with the exception of the 1.25 g/day group, which showed a minimal increment at the 6-month period, compared with the control group. Comparisons of the increments in bone mass after estrogen therapy for both natural and surgical menopausal subjects found that there was a more prominent response in surgical menopausal women receiving a dosage of 2.5 g/day.

CONCLUSION:

Estradiol gel at the dosage of 1.25 g/day, equivalent to 17beta-estradiol 0.75 mg/day, effectively prevented bone loss in postmenopausal women after a 12-month treatment period. The therapeutic effect of estradiol gel on bone mass was more prominent in the surgical menopausal groups at the dosage of 2.5 g/day. The atrophic ovaries may therefore play a crucial role in the subsequent decades of postmenopausal women.

• Authors: Tzay-Shing Yang, Yi-Jen Chen, Wei-Hsing Liang, Cheng-Yen Chang, Ling-Chen Tai, Sheng-Pin Chang, Heung-Tat Ng
• Journal: Journal of the Chinese Medical Association : JCMA (J Chin Med Assoc) Vol. 70 Issue 5 Pg. 200-6 (May 2007) ISSN: 1726-4901 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 17524997 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Estradiol

Topics

• Administration, Cutaneous
• Bone Density
• Estradiol (administration & dosage)
• Estrogen Replacement Therapy
• Female
• Humans
• Middle Aged
• Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal (prevention & control)
• Prospective Studies
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed