Hydroxyapatite, a crystalline substance within your body, comprises nearly 50 percent of your bone mineral. This compound is of particular importance in cases of osteoporosis, with which one in five women in the United States currently suffer. Fortunately, microcrystalline hydroxyapatite has shown positive effects in treating the condition. Consult your physician before determining a treatment plan.
Early Research
In 1983, a combined team of researchers from Hertford County Hospital and East Herts Hospital in London, England, conducted research using 40 people suffering from osteoporosis secondary to long-term prednisolone use. After 12 months, the group treated with microcrystalline hydroxyapatite experienced significantly less pain than the untreated group. While both groups showed bone mineral loss, the untreated group showed a much higher degree of bone mineral loss. The results of this study were published in "Current Medical Research and Opinion" in 1984.
Postgastrectomy
A full or partial removal of the stomach can result in osteoporosis, as your ability to digest and process nutrients essential for bone health becomes compromised. Researchers from the Department of Surgery, University College and Middlesex School of Medicine, London, UK were able to use advanced measuring techniques to study the effect of microcrystalline hydroxyapatite in those suffering from osteoporosis following stomach surgery. Unfortunately microcrystalline hydroxyapatite supplementation provided no benefit, as the subjects were unable to properly digest the compound. The results of this study were published in the 1991 "British Journal of Surgery."
Comparison
Calcium carbonate is a common mineral supplement, and researchers at the Institute for Biomedical Engineering in Zurich, Switzerland tested the effectiveness of microcrystalline hydroxyapatite in comparison to calcium carbonate. Forty patients were assigned to one of two groups and monitored for 20 months. At the end of the study, those supplementing with microcrystalline hydroxyapatite showed significantly less decrease in bone mineral density than the calcium carbonate group. The results of this study were published in the 1995 issue of "Osteoporosis International."
Review of Existing Studies
Correlating data is important in any field, so researchers from the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit in Barcelona, Spain, set out to examine 18 studies and compare data. Only six of the studies met the criteria for inclusion, which included proper measurements of bone mineral density. Their review showed that in all cases, microcrystalline hydroxyapatite was more effective at preventing a loss of bone mineral density than calcium carbonate. The results of their research were published in "Menopause" in 2009.
References
- "Textbook of Biochemistry With Clinical Correlations"; Thomas M. Devlin; 2010
- MedlinePlus: Osteoporosis
- "Current Medical Research and Opinion"; Clinical Trial of Microcrystalline Hydroxyapatite Compound ('Ossopan') in the Prevention of Osteoporosis Due to Corticosteroid Therapy; A. Pines, et al.; 1984
- "British Journal of Surgery"; Postgastrectomy Osteoporosis; F.L. Tovey, et al.; November 1991
- "Osteoporosis International"; Comparison of the Treatment Effects of Ossein-Hydroxyapatite Compound and Calcium Carbonate in Osteoporotic Females; P. RUegsegger, et al.; January 1995
- "Menopause"; Efficacy of Ossein-hydroxyapatite Complex Compared with Calcium Carbonate to Prevent Bone Loss: A Meta-Analysis; C. Castelo-Branco, et al.; September - October 2009
