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Ipriflavone, a supplement
touted as a way to boost bone density appears to have no positive effect
on preserving bone mass, according to a new study. As a matter of fact,
it may even have the negative effect of suppressing
immune function.
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Researchers studied a group of 474 postmenopausal
women.
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The women received either 600 milligrams (mg)
of ipriflavone daily or a placebo daily for 3 years.
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In addition, all women took 500 mg of calcium
daily.
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Researchers measured the women's bone density
at three different sites (spine, hip and forearm) every 3 months.
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No difference in bone
density was seen between the two groups.
However, one difference that was discovered was
that the women taking the ipriflavone had lower levels of certain white
blood cells (lymphocytes) than those taking the placebo.
However, despite this fact, women taking the ipriflavone
did not have more frequent attacks of cold or flu than women who took
the placebo, lead study author Peter Alexandersen told Reuters Health.
Although he noted that some small studies have suggested
ipriflavone is effective in preserving bone mass, the current study found
that "in women at risk for osteoporosis, ipriflavone
at these doses had no effect on bone density."
Meeting of the American
Society for Bone and Mineral Research, September, 2000 Toronto, Canada.
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