Alfacalcidol

2 papers2 findings

C, W, M, H: cells, worms or flies, mice, humans. Dark: independent labs found the same change there. Light: one lab or one study. Outline: nothing yet.

Labs are independent when their papers share no last author and no institution.

Against: findings that point the other way from most findings on the same outcome.

On aging: the drug’s trials ARN judged to be about aging, of every trial that tests it for any use.

No results posted: trials that ended more than a year ago with no results on ClinicalTrials.gov and no paper in ARN’s record.

Company ties: findings with an author at a company, or from a paper whose competing-interests statement declares ties to one.

1 lab

Human trial1

Outcomes

Bone mineral density loss

downin humans1

1 study

Alfacalcidol decreases bone mineral density loss in humans (Bone mineral density decreased 1.2% with treatment versus 6.7% with placebo).
“Bone mineral densities decreased 1.2% in the treatment group compared with 6.7% in the placebo group during 18 months (p<0.0001).”
Human trialParkinson's disease; mean Hoehn and Yahr stage 3; compared with placebosecond metacarpal1 microg daily18 monthsn = 86
Amelioration of osteopenia and hypovitaminosis D by 1alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 in elderly patients with Parkinson's disease
Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry1 Jan 1999

Associations

Nonvertebral fracture

downin humans1

1 study

Alfacalcidol lowers the risk of nonvertebral fracture in humans (8 patients with fractures on placebo versus 1 on treatment; reported odds ratio 9.8).
“Eight patients sustained fractures (six at the hip and two at other sites) in the placebo group, and one hip fracture occurred among treated patients”
Human trialParkinson's disease; compared with placebo1 microg daily18 monthsn = 86
Amelioration of osteopenia and hypovitaminosis D by 1alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 in elderly patients with Parkinson's disease
Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry1 Jan 1999