Roles of alendronate and simvastatin in prevention of bone loss in ovariectomized rats

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of simvastatin for preventing and treating osteoporosis compared to alendronate, the standard treatment of choice in osteoporosis, in a rat model. Weight change, bone mineral density, and the bone volume/total volume ratio obtained through histological analysis were used to compare the effects of simvastatin to those of alendronate. In simvastatin-treated animals, bone mineral density increased by 4 to 8% compared to a negative control group, while alendronate-treated animals showed an increase of 13%. The bone volume/total volume ratio in the simvastatin group ranged from 0. 53 to 0. 76, while alendronate-treated animals showed a range from 0. 44 to 0. 51. We also found that simvastatins are more effective for preventing bone loss when administered in early osteoporosis rather than in advanced osteoporosis. The results of the present study indicate that simvastatin is more effective for maintaining bone volume, while alendronate is more effective for maintaining bone mineral density, in a rat model. Therefore, simvastatin may prevent bone loss in early menopausal women.