The safety and efficacy of early-stage bi-weekly alendronate to improve bone mineral density and bone turnover in chinese post-menopausal women at risk of osteoporosis

180 post-menopausal Chinese women, between 40 and 70 years of age, with osteopenia (T-score between -1.6 and -2.4), were randomized into 1 of 2 groups to study the effects of early antiresorptive drug intervention on osteopenia. The first group, classified as the treatment group, was given received 70 mg of alendronate once every 2 weeks plus 0.5 micrograms of alfacalcidol daily, while the second croup, classified as the control, only received 0.5 micrograms of alfacalcidol daily. Results showed that individuals who received early intervention with alendronate (antiresorptive drug), had higher BMD and significantly reduced bone turnover, 12 months after treatment began.