It was shocking to read, in a May 10,2001 article by Carl T. Hall, that 1/2 of all women and one 1/8 of all men over fifty will secumb to an osteoporosis-related fracture.
Osteoporosis is an especially virulent problem for post-menopausal women. Attempting to rectify low blood calcium levels, parathyroid hormone stimulates acidic bone breakdown at the bones' osteoclasts.
The only effective treatments thus far are various "anti-resorptive" agents that either halt or slow bone degredation.
Eli Lilly, in conjunction with 99 scientists in 17 countries, is currently testing the effects of daily injections of PTH into muscle. Amazingly, when used as a "drug" (rather than as a naturally occuring hormone), PTH actually acts as a bone builder by stimulating collagen-secreting osteoblasts (not osteoclasts). This is the only know substance that actually induces the body to re-build precious bone. early findings show that the treatment are quite effective even over short durations (one to two years). Post PTH therapy is further enhanced by the use of bone stabilizing agents currently in use today.
Drawbacks to the therapy include: dredded daily self-injections and the potential for kidney stones (formed from calcium accumulation). Under the brand name "Forteo", Eli Lilly's synthetic copy of portions of parathyroid hormone is still waiting for FDA approval.
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