A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the effects of alendronate on bone mineral density and bone remodelling in perimenopausal women with low bone mineral density.

Background: Perimenopausal women can experience rapid bone loss at skeletal sites with both cortical and cancellous bone, increasing the prevalence of osteoporosis following menopause.

Methods: We conducted a 12-month randomized placebo-controlled trial evaluating the effects of alendronate 70 mg with 2800 IU cholecalciferol administered once per week for 12 months in comparison with placebo and cholecalciferol. The primary end-point was the percentage change in the lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) from baseline to 12 months.