The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 272 No 7298 p562
8 May 2004

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Raloxifene and Premarin are beneficial for bone density

Raloxifene and Premarin (conjugated equine oestrogen [CEO]) both have beneficial effects on bone density and bone turnover in healthy postmenopausal women. However, the effects of CEO are more marked, according to a new trial.

The three-year study involved 619 postmenopausal women with prior hysterectomy randomised to 60mg or 150mg per day of raloxifene, 0.625mg daily of CEO (Premarin) or placebo.

Compared with baseline, bone density in the lumbar spine declined by 2 per cent in the placebo group, was stable in the two raloxifene groups and increased by 4.6 per cent in the subjects receiving CEO.

The study is published in Archives of Internal Medicine (2004;164:871).