Effect of strength training versus raloxifene on bone weight, blood glucose, lipid and antioxidant profile in ovariectomized rats

We compared the effect of the treatment with strength training (ST) and raloxifene (RALOX) on bone weight, blood glucose, lipid, and antioxidant profile in ovariectomized rats. Twenty-four Wistar rats were distributed into four groups: ovariectomy + VEHICLE (control); ovariectomy + RALOX; ovariectomy + ST; ovariectomy + RALOX + ST. Thirty days after ovariectomy, the animals underwent the treatment with RALOX (750 µcg day-1) and/or ST (three sessions week-1). Thirty days after, all groups were scarified, tibia and femur were weighed, and the blood was collected for analysis of the lipid profile, glucose, and antioxidants catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH). The ST group showed greater femur weight (0.82 ± 0.18 g) and RALOX + ST had greater tibia weight (0.61± 0.17 g) than CONTROL with femur weight of 0.65 ± 0.08 g and tibia of 0.49 ± 0.08 g with no differences between treatments (p > 0.05). ST group showed significantly higher catalase (181.7 ± 15.4 µM g-1) compared to the other groups. In contrast, the GSH value was lower in ST group (89.2 ± 8.1 µM g-1) compared to RALOX (175.9 ± 17.1 µM g-1) and RALOX + ST (162.8 ± 12.1 µM g-1), but the values of these two groups did not differ from CONTROL(115.3 ± 21.1 µM g-1). Total cholesterol did not differ between groups (p > 0.05), but exercise alone(54.3 ± 2.5 mg dL-1) or with RALOX (53.0 ± 1.5 mg dL-1) resulted in higher HDL cholesterol than CONTROL (45.5 ± 2.5 mg dL-1). Only RALOX+ST presented lower glucose (140.3 ± 9.7 mg dL-1) values than CONTROL (201.7 ± 30.6 mg dL-1). In conclusion, ST promotes similar benefits on bone and metabolic parameters compared to pharmacological treatment in ovariectomized rats.(AU)

Comparison of Effects of Alendronate and Raloxifene on Lumbar Bone Mineral Density, Bone Turnover, and Lipid Metabolism in Elderly Women with Osteoporosis

PURPOSE: To compare the effects of alendronate and raloxifene on lumbar bone mineral density (BMD), bone turnover, and lipid metabolism in elderly women with osteoporosis. Subjects and Methods: One hundred twenty-two postmenopausal women with osteoporosis (mean age: 69.4 years) were randomly divided into 2 groups of 61 patients: the alendronate group and the raloxifene group. BMD of the lumbar spine, urinary level of cross-linked N-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen (NTX), and serum levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total cholesterol (TC), high and low density lipoprotein cholesterols (LDL-C and HDL-C, respectively), and triglycerides (TG) were measured during the 12-month-treatment period. RESULTS: The trial in 50 patients in the alendronate group and 52 patients in the raloxifene group could be completed. Both alendronate and raloxifene increased lumbar BMD (+8.0% and +2.4% at 12 months, respectively), followed by reductions of urinary NTX level and serum ALP level; however, the effects of alendronate were more pronounced than those of raloxifene. Only raloxifene reduced the serum levels of TC and LDL-C (-3.9% and -7.7% at 12 months, respectively), without any significant effect on the serum HDL-C and TG levels. CONCLUSION: The present study confirmed the efficacy of alendronate greater than raloxifene in increasing lumbar BMD through its effect on marked reduction of the bone turnover more than by raloxifene, and some beneficial effects of raloxifene on lipid metabolism in elderly women with osteoporosis.

Ação do raloxifeno no endométrio / Raloxifene effects on endometrium

O raloxifeno é uma droga relativamente nova quando consideramos seus efeitos colaterais. Efeitos adversos podem se manifestar muito tempo após o início do uso ou ter uma incidência tão pequena, que somente anos de acompanhamento permitiriam sua identificação. O raloxifeno tem sido associado com a redução da incidência de câncer de mama após 2 a 3 anos de tratamento, além de mostrar um efeito positivo na densidade óssea e no perfil lipídico. Os principais inconvenientes ao seu uso são uma maior incidência de fogachos e de tromboembolismo venoso, embora haja meios de diminuir a incidência do primeiro. A grande maioria dos estudos em humanos mostrou uma grande segurança em nível endometrial, mesmo quando o raloxifeno foi usado em doses acima da comumente recomendada, que é de 60 mg/dia. Poucos são os estudos que mostram algum efeito negativo do raloxifeno no útero, sendo geralmente com pequeno número de participantes e com baixo nível de evidência. Nota-se que o raloxifeno é seguro em pacientes na pós-menopausa e sem patologias uterinas, fazendo parte do arsenal terapêutico contra a osteoporose. Porém, devemos estar atentos para possíveis efeitos negativos no endométrio, principalmente em longo prazo.

Progressive pigmentary purpura related to Raloxifene

Progressive pigmentary purpura is a rare condition characterized by lymphocytic capillaritis histologically causing various clinical entities which are also named as persistent pigmented purpuric dermatoses. It is generally idiopathic; however, rare cases secondary to drugs and various diseases have been reported. In this report we describe a case of progressive pigmentary purpura induced by raloxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator which is primarily used in the treatment and prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis. As far as we know, no case of progressive pigmentary purpura has previously been reported as an adverse effect of raloxifene