Tolerability of different oral iron supplements: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: A systematic review was conducted to analyze the tolerability of several oral iron supplements based on data obtained in available publications and to report the incidence of adverse effects (AEs) for each supplement both overall and gastrointestinal. METHODS: Electronic databases - Medline, the Cochrane Library, and Embase were searched for studies published up to January 2009. Clinical or observational studies reporting data on the tolerability of oral iron supplements were included. Results were described statistically and a quasi-binomial logistic regression model was developed to evaluate and compare the tolerability of the supplements studied. RESULTS: For this review 111 studies were included, with data on 10,695 patients. Ferrous sulfate with mucoproteose had the lowest incidence of AEs (4.1% for overall AEs, 3.7% for gastrointestinal AEs [GAEs]) and was used as the reference supplement in the regression model. Incidence rates of overall AEs for the other supplements were 7.3% for iron protein succinylate [GAEs: 7%; OR for AE compared to the reference supplement, 1.96], 23.5% for ferrous glycine sulfate [GAEs: 18.5%; OR: 5.90], 30.9% for ferrous gluconate [GAEs: 29.9%; OR: 11.06], 32.3% for ferrous sulfate without mucoproteose [GAEs: 30.2%; OR: 11.21], and 47.0% for ferrous fumarate [GAEs: 43.4%; OR: 19.87]. The differences in incidence of AEs between extended-release ferrous sulfate with mucoproteose and all other supplements except iron protein succinylate were statistically significant at p < 0.001. These findings are subject to some limitations as the designs and methodologies of the studies included show heterogeneity among them that has partially been counteracted by the large sample size provided by the substantial number of trials, which is considered a strength in tolerability studies. CONCLUSION: Extended-release ferrous sulfate with mucoproteose appears to be the best tolerated of the different oral iron supplements evaluated.

[2011 Up-date of the consensus statement of the Spanish Society of Rheumatology on osteoporosis]. / Actualización 2011 del consenso Sociedad Española de Reumatología de osteoporosis.

OBJECTIVE: Due to increasing improvement in the diagnosis, evaluation and management of osteoporosis and the development of new tools and drugs, the Spanish Society of Rheumatology (SER) has promoted the development of recommendations based on the best evidence available. These recommendations should be a reference to rheumatologists and other health professionals involved in the treatment of patients with osteoporosis. METHODS: Recommendations were developed following a nominal group methodology and based on a systematic review. The level of evidence and degree of recommendation were classified according to the model proposed by the Center for Evidence Based Medicine at Oxford. The level of agreement was established through Delphi technique. Evidence from previous consensus and available clinical guidelines was used. RESULTS: We have produced recommendations on diagnosis, evaluation and management of osteoporosis. These recommendations include the glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, premenopausal and male osteoporosis. CONCLUSIONS: We present the SER recommendations related to the biologic therapy risk management.

Comparison of the effects of ossein-hydroxyapatite complex and calcium carbonate on bone metabolism in women with senile osteoporosis: a randomized, open-label, parallel-group, controlled, prospective study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Calcium and vitamin D supplementation is recommended in patients with osteopenia and osteoporosis. One group that could benefit from this treatment is women with senile osteoporosis. Two sources of supplementary calcium are ossein-hydroxyapatite complex (OHC) and calcium carbonate, but, to date, their comparative effects on bone metabolism have not been studied in women with senile osteoporosis. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of OHC and calcium carbonate on bone metabolism in women with senile osteoporosis. METHODS: This was a randomized, open-label, parallel-group, controlled, prospective study to compare the effects of OHC (treatment group) and calcium carbonate (control group) on bone metabolism. Patients were included between 2000 and 2004 and followed up for a maximum of 3 years. The study was carried out at the bone metabolism unit of two university hospitals in Barcelona, Spain. Subjects were women aged >65 years with densitometric osteoporosis of the lumbar spine or femoral neck. The treatment group received open-label OHC (Osteopor®) at a dose of two 830 mg tablets every 12 hours (712 mg elemental calcium per day). The control group received open-label calcium carbonate at a dose of 500 mg of elemental calcium every 12 hours (1000 mg elemental calcium per day). Both groups also received a vitamin D supplement (calcifediol 266 µg) at a dose of one vial orally every 15 days. Biochemical markers of bone remodelling (osteocalcin by electrochemiluminescence, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase using colorimetry) were measured at baseline and annually for 3 years. Bone mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar spine and femoral neck was also measured. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty women were included (55 in the OHC group and 65 in the calcium carbonate group), of whom 54 completed 3 years of follow-up. Levels of serum osteocalcin increased to a greater extent in the OHC group compared with the calcium carbonate group (by a mean ± SD of 0.84 ± 3.13 ng/mL at year 2 and 1.86 ± 2.22 ng/mL at year 3 in the OHC group compared with a mean ± SD decrease of 0.39 ± 1.39 ng/mL at year 2 and an increase of 0.31 ± 2.51 ng/mL at year 3 in the calcium carbonate group); the differences between treatment groups were statistically significant (p < 0.05) at both years. Changes over time in serum osteocalcin level were also statistically significant (p < 0.05) in the OHC group, but not in the calcium carbonate group. Changes in mean BMD at the lumbar spine and femoral neck between baseline and year 3 were -1.1% and 2.5% for OHC and -2.3% and 1.2% for calcium carbonate, respectively. CONCLUSION: OHC had a greater anabolic effect on bone than calcium carbonate.

Effect of IL-1beta, PGE(2), and TGF-beta1 on the expression of OPG and RANKL in normal and osteoporotic primary human osteoblasts.

The RANKL/RANK/OPG pathway is essential for bone remodeling regulation. Many hormones and cytokines are involved in regulating gene expression in most of the pathway components. Moreover, any deregulation of this pathway can alter bone metabolism, resulting in loss or gain of bone mass. Whether osteoblasts from osteoporotic and nonosteoporotic patients respond differently to cytokines is unknown. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of interleukin (IL)-1beta, proftaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) treatments on OPG and RANKL gene expression in normal (n = 11) and osteoporotic (n = 8) primary osteoblasts. OPG and RANKL mRNA levels of primary human osteoblastic (hOB) cell cultures were assessed by real-time PCR. In all cultures, OPG mRNA increased significantly in response to IL-1beta treatment and decreased in response to TGF-beta1 whereas PGE(2) treatment had no effect. RANKL mRNA levels were significantly increased by all treatments. Differences in OPG and RANKL responses were observed between osteoporotic and nonosteoporotic hOB: in osteoporotic hOB, the OPG response to IL-1beta treatment was up to three times lower (P = 0.009), whereas that of RANKL response to TGF-beta1 was five times higher (P = 0.002) after 8 h of treatment, as compared with those in nonosteoporotic hOBs. In conclusion, osteoporotic hOB cells showed an anomalous response under cytokine stimulation, consistent with an enhanced osteoclastogenesis resulting in high levels of bone resorption.

Reduced proliferation and osteocalcin expression in osteoblasts of male idiopathic osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is characterized by low bone mineral density (BMD), resulting in increasing susceptibility to bone fractures. In men, it has been related to some diseases and toxic habits, but in some instances the cause of the primary--or idiopathic--osteoporosis is not apparent. In a previous study, our group compared histomorphometric measurements in cortical and cancellous bones from male idiopathic osteoporosis (MIO) patients to those of control subjects and found reduced bone formation without major differences in bone resorption. To confirm these results, this study analyzed the etiology of this pathology, examining the osteoblast behavior in vitro. We compared two parameters of osteoblast activity in MIO patients and controls: osteoblastic proliferation and gene expression of COL1A1 and osteocalcin, in basal conditions and with vitamin D(3) added. All these experiments were performed from a first-passage osteoblastic culture, obtained from osteoblasts that had migrated from the transiliac explants to the plate. The results suggested that the MIO osteoblast has a slower proliferation rate and decreased expression of genes related to matrix formation, probably due to a lesser or slower response to some stimulus. We concluded that, contrary to female osteoporosis, in which loss of BMD is predominantly due to increased resorption, low BMD in MIO seems to be due to an osteoblastic defect.

Efficacy of ossein-hydroxyapatite complex compared with calcium carbonate to prevent bone loss: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: There is increasing evidence to suggest that ossein-hydroxyapatite complex (OHC) is more effective than calcium supplements in maintaining bone mass. The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine whether OHC has a different clinical effect on bone mineral density (BMD) compared with calcium carbonate (CC). METHODS: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of OHC versus CC on trabecular BMD. We identified publications on clinical trials by a search of electronic databases, including MEDLINE (1966-November 2008), EMBASE (1974-November 2008), and the Cochrane Controlled Clinical Trials Register.The primary endpoint was percent change in BMD from baseline. Data were pooled in a random-effects model, and the weighted mean difference was calculated. A sensitivity analysis that excluded trials without full data was performed. RESULTS: Of the 18 controlled trials initially identified, 6 were included in the meta-analysis. There was no significant heterogeneity among the included trials. The percent change in BMD significantly favored the OHC group (1.02% [95% CI, 0.63-1.41], P < 0.00001). These results were confirmed in the sensitivity analysis. CONCLUSIONS: OHC is significantly more effective in preventing bone loss than CC.

Bone histomorphometry in 22 male patients with normocalciuric idiopathic osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is associated with increased bone resorption together with a decrease in bone formation. In women, there is an increase of resorption surfaces and in the number of osteoclasts. These changes, however, are not found in males. This purpose of this study was to examine clinical, laboratory, and histomorphometric data in a series of 22 male patients with primary osteoporosis and normocalciuria undergoing transiliac bone biopsy. All of them gave written informed consent for bone biopsy. Automated biochemical profile, urinary calcium excretion, and bone marker assays were performed. Histomorphometric studies were carried out in transiliac bone biopsies obtained with a Bordier-Lepine needle with previous tetracycline labeling. The histomorphometric values of cancellous bone showed significantly lower values of bone volume and values of osteoid surface (OS/BS) and osteoblast surface (Ob.S/BS), and a modest increase in osteoid thickness (O.Th) without changes in the mineralization lag time or eroded surface in patients compared with controls. In cortical bone, there was a low cortical volume (Ct.V/TV) and cortical width (Ct.Wi) in patients compared with controls, without differences in cortical porosity (Po.V/TV). These results suggest that normocalciuric idiopathic osteoporosis in men is characterized by decreased cancellous osteoblasts and bone turnover.