So there are significant beneficial effects on osteoporosis. They are also better than actually, maybe twice as potent, as calcitonin - estrogen s affects on bones. This is even in people with advanced osteoporosis. Beneficial effects on cardiovascular health, beneficial effects in cognition and mood, and, as I ll mention next week, estrogen if given after the menopause and taken for years at the usual dose, gives people really significant prevention or prophylaxis against developing Alzheimer s disease. 1500 mg a day, vitamin D, at least 400 IU a day, and hormone replacement therapy.
Secondary prevention is all of the above, plus an additional antiresorptive agent.
So this is for the older person who already has compression fractures or hip fracture. So all the above plus an additional antiresorptive agent such as alendronate or calcitonin. And don t forget etidronate. Etidronate, or Didronel, is still a Osteoporotic compression fractures really ought to be treated with bed rest. Not physical therapy, but bed rest to take the gravitational pull off the spine.