Question

The mother of a close friend of yours is diagnosed with moderate osteoporosis. She is prescribed two hormones, or supplements, or drugs that affect hormones or supplements. Tell me two possibilities for these medications, and describe how they would help her osteoporosis.

Note: I don’t expect you to know any drug names, I’m asking you for what TYPES of drugs.

Answer 1

Possible prescribed medications can be: Estrogen, calcitonin; growth hormone and calcium supplements.

Estrogen is important in maintaining bone mass by retarding bone absorption. Also there is increased expression of bone matrix proteins like collagen.

Calcitonin inhibits bone resorption by direct action on osteoclast which form contact with the resorptive pit. It also promotes calcium deposition by osteoblasts.

Growth hormone decrease the resorption from bone and induce growth of bone by hyperplasia.

Exogenous calcium may decrease calcium resorption by maintaining plasma calcium levels.