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Low Dose Estrogen and Calcium Have an Additive Effect on Bone Resorption in Older Women¹

University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut 06030; and University of Heidelberg (M.J.S.), Heidelberg, Germany

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Karen M. Prestwood, M.D., Center on Aging, MC-5215, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut 06030-5215.

Previous studies have shown that treatment with estrogen or calcium decreases bone turnover in older women. The mechanisms by which estrogen and calcium exert their effects are probably different. We therefore examined the possibility of an additive or synergistic effect of combined treatment with calcium and low dose estrogen on bone turnover in older women, using biochemical markers.

Thirty-one healthy women over 70 yr of age were randomized to 12 weeks of treatment with either micronized 17ß-estradiol [0.5 mg/day Estrace (E₂)] or 1500 mg/day elemental calcium, given as carbonate plus vitamin D (800 IU/day; Ca+D). At the end of the initial 12-week treatment period, both groups received both Ca+D and E₂ for an additional 12 weeks. Eleven older women were followed for 36 weeks without any treatment and served as a control group.

Serum and urine were collected at baseline, at 12 and 24 weeks on treatment, and at 12 weeks after treatment was terminated for measurement of biochemical markers of bone turnover. Markers of bone formation were bone alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, and type I procollagen peptide; markers of bone resorption were urinary cross-linked C-telopeptides and N-telopeptides of type I collagen, serum cross-linked N-telopeptides of type I collagen, urinary free deoxypyridinoline cross-links, and serum bone sialoprotein. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to determine changes in bone turnover measures over time by group.

All markers of bone resorption decreased with initial treatment and decreased further with combination therapy (P < 0.001). Markers of bone formation decreased with Ca+D treatment, but not with E₂ alone; there was no additional effect of combination therapy on formation markers compared to Ca+D alone. Neither markers of formation nor resorption changed in the control group.

These results suggest that there is an additive effect of low dose estrogen and calcium on bone resorption, but not on bone formation, in older women. Thus, the combination of low dose estrogen plus calcium is likely to be more effective in older women than either treatment alone.

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