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Health/Nutritional News

Bisphosphonates may extend osteoporosis patients' lives

The Los Angeles Times (2/3, Roan) "Booster Shots" blog reported that bisphosphonates, which are "known to reduce the risk of bone fractures," also appear to "extend life," according to a study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. In the study of 362 participants with osteoporosis, people taking bisphosphonates, including "Fosamax [alendronate], Boniva [ibandronate] and Actonel [risedronate]," gained an "extra five years of life" compared with people who were taking other treatments, such as "calcium, vitamin D or hormone therapy -- and those taking no therapy." Moreover, the mortality rate for women taking bisphosphonates was "0.8% per 100 person-years, compared with 1.2% for women taking hormone therapy, 3.2% for women taking calcium and vitamin D and 3.5% for women taking no treatment." Osteoporosis medications also "lowered the death rate compared with other therapies in men."