Effects of calcium and vitamin D, with and without lactulose, in bone mineral density on postmenopausal women with osteopenia: Pilot randomized controlled trial

We report the results of a randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, multicenter, parallel group pilot study, the objective of which was to assess whether the addition of lactulose to vitamin D and calcium supplementation for 12 months contributed to bone mineral density (BMD) maintenance in postmenopausal women with osteopenia (T-score -1 to -2.5 SD). Women in the lactulose group (n=19) received lactulose 15 mL/day (equivalent to 10.05 g), vitamin D3 400 IU/day and calcium carbonate 500 mg/day, and women (n=22) in the placebo group were administered lactulose placebo, vitamin D3 400 IU/day and calcium carbonate 1,000 mg/day. The baseline daily calcium intake was similar in both study groups. The primary endpoint was the BMD in the lumbar spine at the final visit. A generalized liner model was used to assess final versus baseline differences in BMD in both study groups. Differences in least-square means of BMD between lactulose and placebo were not statistically significant both in the per-protocol data set (-0.012, 95% CI -0.031 to 0.007, P=0.224) and in the intention-to-treat population (-0.005, 95% CI -0.025 to 0.016, P=651). As we have not found differences within the two study groups, the addition of lactulose to 500 mg of calcium carbonate associated with vitamin D supplementation could have similar effects on lumbar BMD as 1.000 mg of calcium carbonate. These findings may indicate that lactulose may improve calcium absorption in postmenopausal women. A long follow-up study with a greater number of subjects would be necessary to confirm these preliminary observations.