Effects of traditional Chinese medicine on bone mineral density and femoral neck strength in postmenopausal women

OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of traditional Chinese medicine QIANGGU JIAONANG(QGJN) on bone mineral density(BMD) and femoral neck strength in postmenopausal women.METHODS:Totally, 200 menopausal women, aged ≤60 and being menopaused over 1 year with bone loss or osteoporosis, were enrolled. All women were divided into 4 groups (50 in each):Group A were treated with QGJN and oral estradiol valerate; Group B were managed with QGJN only; Group C with oral estradiol valerate only; Group D as control. Bone mineral density of femoral neck was measured with DEXA and femoral neck strength with Muscle Evaluation System(MES) before and 24 weeks after the treatment.RESULTS:Totally, 182 women completed the trial including 46 in group A, 48 in group B, 42 in group C and the rest in group D.The BMD and FS in group A,B,C were significantly increased after the treatment (7.33% vs 9.04%; 3.385 vs 5.87%; 3.57% vs 5.91%, P0.01) with more increase in group A than that of group B and C (P0.01) and more in group C than that of B(P0.01). Significant decrease of BMD and FS was detected in group D (3.30% and 5.31%, P0.01).CONCLUSIONS:Traditional Chinese medicine (QGJN) can improve the BMD and FS in menopausal women.