Effect of nandrolone decanoate and 1-α-hydroxy-calciferol upon magnesium plasma levels in postmenopausal osteoporotic women

The aims of this study were to evaluate the differences in serum magnesium levels between postmenopausal osteoporotic and non-osteoporotic women in specific age groups, as well as to ascertain the influence of two bone active drugs upon serum Mg levels in postmenopausal osteoporotic women. We measured serum Mg levels in 40 non-osteoporotic and 77 osteoporotic women. The osteoporotic women were included in a two-year double-blind prospective clinical study and treated either with 50 mg nandrolone decanoate, or with 1μg 1-α-hydroxy-calciferol. Our results showed that, postmenopausal osteoporotic women aged 51-70 had significant lower serum Mg levels than age matched non-osteoporotic postmenopausal women. 1-α-vitamin D3 increased significantly serum Mg during the 2^nd year of therapy in osteoporotic patients aged 51-70. It is concluded that, serum Mg could serve as an index for the establishment of postmenopausal osteoporotic patients, as well as for the monitoring of the therapeutic response to bone active drugs in patients below 70 years old.