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In osteoporotic women treated with strontium ranelate, strontium is located in bone formed during treatment with a maintained degree of mineralization

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Abstract

Summary

In postmenopausal osteoporotic women and up to 3 years of treatment with strontium ranelate, strontium was present only in recently deposited bone tissue resulting from formation activity during the period of treatment. Strontium was shown to be dose-dependently deposited into this newly formed bone with preservation of the mineralization.

Introduction

Interactions between strontium (Sr) and bone mineral and its effects on mineralization were investigated in women treated with strontium ranelate.

Methods

Bone biopsies from osteoporotic women were obtained over 5-year strontium ranelate treatment from phases II and III studies. Bone samples obtained over 3-year treatment were investigated by X-ray microanalysis for bone Sr uptake and focal distribution, and by quantitative microradiography for degree of mineralization. On some samples, Sr distribution (X-ray cartography) was analyzed on whole sample surfaces and the percentage of bone surface containing Sr was calculated. Bone Sr content was chemically measured on whole samples.

Results

In treated women, Sr was exclusively present in bone formed during treatment; Sr deposition depended on the dose with higher focal content in new bone structural units than in old ones constantly devoid of Sr, even after 3-year treatment. A plateau in global bone Sr content was reached after 3 years of treatment. Cartography illustrated the extent of surfaces containing Sr, and formation activity during strontium ranelate treatment was higher in cancellous than in cortical bone. Mineralization was maintained during treatment.

Conclusion

The quality of bone mineral was preserved after treatment with strontium ranelate, supporting the safety of this agent at the bone tissue level.

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Acknowledgments

Present studies were supported by unrestricted research grants from the Institut de Recherches Internationales Servier (Courbevoie, France) and by Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale. The expert technical assistance of Catherine Simi, Annie Buffet (Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, INSERM Unité 831, Université de Lyon, France), and Albert Perrat (Centre Technologique des Microstructures, Université de Lyon, Villeurbanne, France) were also gratefully appreciated. The authors also thank Prof. Mark Forwood (Brisbane) for helpful discussions and remarks during the preparation of the manuscript.

Conflicts of interest

The authors have received an unrestricted grant from Institut de Recherches Internationales Servier. They have no further potential conflicts of interest.

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Correspondence to G. Boivin.

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Pierre Delmas died on the 23 July 2008

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Boivin, G., Farlay, D., Khebbab, M.T. et al. In osteoporotic women treated with strontium ranelate, strontium is located in bone formed during treatment with a maintained degree of mineralization. Osteoporos Int 21, 667–677 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-009-1005-z

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