A comparison of teriparatide and calcitonin therapy in postmenopausal Asian women with osteoporosis: a 6‐month study

ABSTRACTObjective: The number of hip fractures is expected to double in the next 20 years, with current estimates that Asia will account for 37% of these cases. As bone mineral density (BMD) may be used as a measure of fracture risk, we sought to compare the effects of teriparatide with salmon calcitonin treatment on changes in BMD, biochemical bone markers, and safety in postmenopausal Asian women with osteoporosis.Methodology: A total of 104 patients ( n = 47 teriparatide [20 µg/day subcutaneously] and n = 57 calcitonin [100 IU/day subcutaneously]) were enrolled in Hong Kong, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, and Thailand. Calcium (≥ 500 mg/day) and vitamin D (200–400 IU/day) supplements were taken throughout the 6‐month controlled, randomized study.Results: Teriparatide was associated with a 5.03 ± 4.77% increase in lumbar spine BMD ( p < 0.0001, mean ± SD change from baseline), whereas changes in lumbar spine BMD for patients on calcitonin were not statistically significant (mean change of 0.36 ± 4.12...