Prevention of osteoporosis with the use of the product of specialized medical nutrition
<i>AIM.</i> To study the efficacy of shellfish dry extract with «Calcium-reparative» filler as a product of specialized medical nutrition to optimize bone metabolism. <i>METHODS.</i> Total of 44 female patients aged from 49 to 71 years, mean age of 54.5±3.8 years, with a combination of several osteoporosis risk factors were involved. 72.7% of all patients complained of pain of varying severity in major joints, in the thoracic and lumbar spine. The patients were randomly divided into two groups - study group (29 patients) and control group (15 patients). Within 30 days, the participants of the study group received «Calcium-reparative» - a product created on the basis of natural biologically active compounds isolated from Far Eastern marine shellfish and purified Altai Shilajit. The efficacy of the product was assessed by means of standard questionnaires for the assessment of quality of life, 10-point visual analogue scale, biochemical laboratory tests. Measurement of serum osteocalcin was performed by ELISA, and immunochemical method - N-terminal propeptide of procollagen type I (the biomarker of bone tissue metabolism). <i>RESULTS.</i> Adverse and allergic reactions to the product were not registered. Among those receiving the product 37.9% noted improvement of well-being and reduction of pain intensity from 6.9±0.45 to 4.28±0.74 points. In those receiving «Calcium-reparative» the level of synthesis of osteocalcin in the study group did not statistically significantly change and appeared to be 18.6±3.8 ng/ml. The increase in the concentration of procollagen type I from 20.9±3.0 ng/ml prior to administration of the therapeutic product to 37.6±5.8 ng/ml (t=0.006, p ≤0.001) after its administration was observed. <i>CONCLUSION.</i> Product of medical nutrition «Calcium-reparative» has the ability to stimulate the cells of bone tissue to synthesize bone matrix protein collagen type I.