HOW ESTROGEN PREVENTS OSTEOPOROSIS

Report #6217 6/9/94

When women go into the menopause, they lose estrogen and their bones weaken at a rapid rate. A recent report in the Journal of Clinical Investigation tells us how estrogen helps to keep bones strong.

At the time of the menopause, a woman's body markedly increases its production of a protein called interleukin-1, which causes bones to lose calcium and weaken so they are more likely to break. Dr. Roberto Pacifici of Washington University in St. Louis showed that estrogen blocks interleukin-1 and prevents it from weakening bones. This is exciting new information because after the menopause, the loss of estrogen causes the bones of all women weaken considerably. This can be prevented by taking estrogen, but there are many women who prefer not to take estrogen because they have migraine headaches, clotting problems, uterine or breast cancers and other conditions. These women could protect their bones by taking a medication that blocks interleukin-1. Synergen, Inc. of Boulder, Colorado has already developed an interleukin-1 antagonist which is already being tested to treat other conditions aggravated by interleukin-1 such as rheumatoid arthritis and septic shock.

The interleukin-1 blocker is not yet available. Since both men and women experience a marked weakening of bone with aging and all women will develop osteoporosis if they live long enough, it is prudent for all people to try to keep their bones strong by exercising regularly, getting enough calcium in their diets and not taking in too much protein.

By Gabe Mirkin, M.D., for CBS Radio News