Effect of Clodronate Alone or In Combination with Vitamin E on Demineralization Induced By Whole Body Gamma Irradiation in Rats

BISPHOSPHONATES usually have been chosen in cancer treatment protocols for the management of fractures risk and controlling metastatic bone pain following chemo- and radiotherapy. This study aims at investigating the beneficial effect of clodronate alone or in combination with vitamin E in irradiated rats exposed to 1Gy 3 alternating days/week for 5 weeks. Calcitonin was also studied individually and in combination with vitamin E in order to investigate its possible effect on bone mass in irradiated rats. Irradiated rats treated with clodronate (5mg/kg, s.c., twice a week) or calcitonin (10 IU/kg, s.c., 48hrs) showed significant decreases in urinary hydroxyproline (Hpr), calcium (Ca) and significant increases in urinary phosphorus (Ph) and serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels, while combination with vitamin E normalized most of measured parameters. It could be concluded that vitamin E could synergize the anti-osteoporotic effect of clodronate or calcitonin especially in γ- irradiated cases.