Denosumab, at Half the Recommended Dose, Appears to Maintain Bone Mineral Density in Postmenopausal Women with Osteoporosis
Reviewed by Dat Tien Nguyen, B.A, ScM. Posted on August 12th, 2022
Denosumab is frequently prescribed to manage osteoporosis, because it can inhibit the development of osteoclast cells; as a result, the medication can reduce the rate of bone loss. It is recommended by the Endocrine Society that postmenopausal women with high risk of fracture should receive 60 mg of Denosumab subcutaneously every 6 months. A recent study reported that dose reduction from 60 mg to 30 mg does not result in exacerbation of osteoporosis.
The study includes 114 postmenopausal women who were diagnosed with osteoporosis and had a moderate risk of fracture. These women were originally taking 60 mg of Denosumab every 6 months for a median duration of 2.5 years. Then, the dosage is lowered to 30 mg every 6 months. After 2 years of follow-up, the study did not observe significant changes to mean bone mineral density (BMD). In fact, the lumbar spinal BMD increased by 3.44%. Also, there was zero case of fracture reported during the duration of the study.
However, the data found in this study should be considered with its limitations in mind. The study has a small sample size, so the result might not be representative of the population. Also, the study is observational and it lacks a control group that is taking the original dosage of denosumab.
The study includes 114 postmenopausal women who were diagnosed with osteoporosis and had a moderate risk of fracture. These women were originally taking 60 mg of Denosumab every 6 months for a median duration of 2.5 years. Then, the dosage is lowered to 30 mg every 6 months. After 2 years of follow-up, the study did not observe significant changes to mean bone mineral density (BMD). In fact, the lumbar spinal BMD increased by 3.44%. Also, there was zero case of fracture reported during the duration of the study.
However, the data found in this study should be considered with its limitations in mind. The study has a small sample size, so the result might not be representative of the population. Also, the study is observational and it lacks a control group that is taking the original dosage of denosumab.