Washington, Sept 19: According to the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, survivors of breast cancer who took a weekly dose of risedronate, sold as Actonel, lost considerably less bone than those who did not take the drug.

The team consisting of Susan Greenspan, M.D., director of the Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment Center and Bone Health program at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and his colleagues, examined as a part of the study 87 women; the mean age being 50.

“Chemotherapy drugs and other medical treatments for breast cancer are known to induce menopause, which can kick-start bone loss, putting survivors at risk for osteoporotic fractures,” said Dr. Greenspan, an internationally respected osteoporosis researcher and professor of medicine at Pitt.

“This study also looked at changes in spine and hip bone mineral density, as well as evidence of bone breakdown,” she said.

All the women on a random basis and on a double blind trial were given calcium and vitamin D supplements. However, half of them took 35 milligrams of risedronate once a week while others took a placebo.

“After 24 months, women in the placebo group had significant bone loss in the spine and hip that we didn’t see in women taking risedronate,” noted Dr. Greenspan.

“In fact, women taking risedronate had a bone density much higher in the spine and hip than women in the placebo group,” she explained.

“We conclude that once weekly doses of risedronate improves bone density and prevents excess bone loss in breast cancer survivors,” the researchers noted. (With inputs from ANI)