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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2015 Dec;21(12):1380-6.
doi: 10.4158/EP15738.OR. Epub 2015 Sep 24.

POTASSIUM CITRATE DECREASES BONE RESORPTION IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN WITH OSTEOPENIA: A RANDOMIZED, DOUBLE-BLIND CLINICAL TRIAL

Naina Sinha Gregory, Rekha Kumar, Emily M Stein, Ellen Alexander, Paul Christos, Richard S Bockman, John S Rodman
Randomized Controlled Trial

POTASSIUM CITRATE DECREASES BONE RESORPTION IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN WITH OSTEOPENIA: A RANDOMIZED, DOUBLE-BLIND CLINICAL TRIAL

Naina Sinha Gregory et al. Endocr Pract. 2015 Dec.

Abstract

Objective: Diets rich in animal protein, such as the typical American diet, are thought to create a high acid load. An association between acid load and bone loss has led to the idea that providing positive alkaline salt therapy could have beneficial effects on bone metabolism. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of potassium citrate (K-citrate), 40 mEq daily, over 1 year on bone resorption and formation.

Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 83 women with postmenopausal osteopenia. Levels of bone turnover markers, specifically urinary N-telopeptide of collagen type 1 (u-NTX), amino-terminal propeptide of type 1 procollagen (P1NP), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BSAP), and osteocalcin (OC) were compared. Changes in bone mineral density (BMD) were also examined.

Results: K-citrate decreased both u-NTX (P = .005) and serum P1NP (P<.001) starting at month 1 and continuing through month 12. No significant change was seen in BSAP or OC. No significant change was seen in lumbar or hip BMD between the 2 groups.

Conclusion: In women with postmenopausal osteopenia, treatment with K-citrate for 1 year resulted in a significant decrease in markers of turnover. The effect on markers of bone formation was not consistent. K-citrate may serve as a potential treatment for bone loss that is well tolerated and without any significant known long-term consequences.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Mean urine NTX values
*P-value <0.05 compared to baseline
Figure 1
Figure 1. Mean urine NTX values
*P-value <0.05 compared to baseline
Figure 2
Figure 2. Mean P1NP values
**P-value <0.005 compared to baseline
Figure 2
Figure 2. Mean P1NP values
**P-value <0.005 compared to baseline
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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