Effect of Qing＇e Formula on Circulating Sclerostin Levels in Patients with Postmenopausal Osteoporosis

• Published in: 华中科技大学学报：医学英德文版 Vol. 35; no. 4; pp. 525 - 530
• Main Author: Yan-loing YANG Bo SHUAI Lin SHEN Xiao-juan XU Chen MA Lin LV
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: 循环硬化; 患者; 电场调制; 绝经后; 维生素D; 蛋白水平; 蛋白表达; 骨质疏松症
• ISSN: 1672-0733; 1993-1352

Summary： Serum sclerostin is positively associated with serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D concentration. Our preliminary studies confirmed that Qing＇e formula （QEF） could effectively increase serum 25 hy- droxyvitamin D concentration in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis （PMOP）, but the effect of supplementation with QEF on serum sclerostin is unknown. This study investigated the effects of sup- plementation of QEF on serum sclerostin levels in patients with PMOP. Totally 120 outpatients and in- patients with PMOP treated in our hospital between January and October 2012 were randomly divided into QEF＋calcium group, alfacalcidol＋calcium group, and placebo＋calcium group （n=40 each）, with a follow-up period of 2 years. The serum levels of sclerostin, 25 hydroxyvitamin D, and bone turnover markers （β-CTX, N-MID and T-PINP） at baseline and at the 6th month, 1st year, 1.5th year, and 2nd year after treatment were measured. The results showed that the levels of circulating sclerostin were in- creased significantly at the 6th month after treatment in QEF＋calcium group and alfacalcidol＋calcium group as compared with placebo＋calcium group （P〈0.05）, but there was no significant difference be- tween the former two groups （P〉0.05）. The levels of β-CTX, N-MID and T-PINP in serum were de- creased in both QEF＋calcium group and alfacalcidol＋calcium group at the 6th month after treatment, without significant difference between the two groups （P〉0.05）. BUt the levels were significantly lower than that in placebo＋calcium group （P〈0.05）. These results suggest that the mechanism by which QEF modulates bone metabolism in patients with PMOP might be related with the effect of QEF in increas- ing sclerostin expression. Our findings provide a scientific rationale for using QEF as an effective drug to prevent bone loss in PMOP.