Effect of Disodium Etidronate on Bone Mineral Density in Postmenopausal Women: A Six-Month Prospective Study

BACKGROUND: Postmenopausal osteoporosis, characterized by rapid bone loss, raises fracture risk. Bisphosphonates are standard treatments. This study evaluates the 6-month efficacy of Disodium Etidronate, a first-generation bisphosphonate with a distinct mechanism, on bone mineral density (BMD) at the hip and lumbar spine in postmenopausal women, an area with limited data. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the effect of a 6-month Disodium Etidronate course on BMD in postmenopausal women. METHODS: A prospective cohort study enrolled 70 postmenopausal women. Participants received 60 mg of Disodium Etidronate orally once daily for six months. BMD at the femoral neck, trochanter, total hip, and lumbar spine (L1-L4) was measured via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at baseline and post-treatment. Changes in BMD, site-specific differences, and influencing factors (age, BMI, calcium intake, exercise) were analyzed. RESULTS: After treatment, BMD increased significantly at all sites (all P<0.001): femoral neck (0.70±0.15 to 0.75±0.13 g/cm²), trochanter (0.65±0.10 to 0.70±0.15 g/cm²), total hip (0.72±0.14 to 0.77±0.13 g/cm²), and lumbar spine L1-L4 (0.80±0.13 to 0.86±0.14 g/cm²). The lumbar spine increase exceeded the trochanter's (P=0.023). Age negatively correlated with BMD improvement (β=-0.25, P=0.001), while BMI (β=0.18, P=0.012), calcium intake (β=0.12, P=0.035), and exercise (β=0.15, P=0.021) showed positive correlations. Adverse reactions were mild (10% incidence). CONCLUSION: A six-month Disodium Etidronate regimen effectively increases BMD in postmenopausal women, with greater efficacy in the lumbar spine. Efficacy is influenced by age, BMI, calcium intake, and exercise. The treatment demonstrates good safety and tolerability.