| Two studies from the Special Surgery (HHS) and | | | | In a second unrelated prospective pilot study, |
| Columbia University Medical Center have confirmed | | | | conducted at HSS and funded in part by the NIH, |
| the recent media attention on the extreme dangers | | | | researchers evaluated the bone composition of 21 |
| to bone from the long-term use of bone drugs | | | | post-menopausal women who were treated for |
| (bisphosphonates). The researchers found that after | | | | femoral fractures. Of these, 12 patients had a history |
| four years of use bisphosphonates had a negative | | | | of bisphosphonate treatment for an average of 8.5 |
| effect on bones causing declining structural integrity | | | | years, while nine had not had bisphosphonate |
| of bone. This finding is very important because | | | | treatment. |
| doctors expect patients to take these drugs for life. | | | | Samples of bone were removed from each patient's |
| ABC news recently highlighted a number of faithful | | | | femur during surgical placement of a femoral nail. Both |
| Fosamax users who experienced abnormal fractures | | | | micro-architecture and material properties of the |
| in their large femur bone from doing very little. | | | | bone were analyzed. |
| In the new study researchers at Columbia evaluated | | | | The study found that, although there were no |
| the bone structure of 111 postmenopausal women | | | | differences in bone micro-architecture between |
| with primary osteoporosis, 61 of whom had been | | | | groups, the material properties of bone in |
| taking bisphosphonates for a minimum of four years | | | | bisphosphonate-treated patients displayed reduced |
| and 50 controls taking calcium and vitamin D | | | | bone tissue heterogeneity, which may be associated |
| supplements. This type of analysis of bone samples | | | | with reduced strength and potentially may contribute |
| from humans has not been done before. It confirms | | | | to the presentation of atypical fractures. |
| earlier animal experiments with these drugs that | | | | "Patients who had been treated with |
| show the higher the dose the more deleterious the | | | | bisphosphonates showed a reduction in tissue |
| adverse effect on bone integrity. | | | | heterogeneity, specifically with mineral content and |
| "Recent research suggests that suppressed bone | | | | crystal size compared with the control group," |
| remodeling from long-term bisphosphonate use might | | | | Gladnick said. |
| result in brittle bone that is prone to atypical | | | | "This tells us that there may be some measurable |
| fractures," said lead author Brian Gladnick. While there | | | | differences in bone quality parameters in patients on |
| is recent research these basic facts have been | | | | long-term bisphosphonate therapy, which might |
| known for a long time. Bone drugs interfere with | | | | contribute to the development of atypical fractures." |
| normal bone regeneration, leaving older bone in place. | | | | Bone drugs are poisons to bone. Only the most inept |
| I have pointed out for many years that this cannot | | | | system of medicine could dream of giving them to |
| possibly help bone quality as someone grows older. | | | | relatively healthy people for long-term use in the |
| Yet, doctors continue to use these drugs on their | | | | name of prevention. This is a major betrayal of the |
| unsuspecting patients even though the science has | | | | public trust. |
| been perfectly clear for over a decade. | | | | |