Effects of telmisartan and losartan treatments on bone turnover markers in patients with newly diagnosed stage I hypertension.

Introduction: Telmisartan is an angiotensin-II receptor type-1 blocker and a partial agonist for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ. The aim of this study was to determine the potential effects of telmisartan on bone metabolism and turnover markers.

Methods: Forty-two patients with newly diagnosed stage I hypertension who were prescribed telmisartan 80 mg/day or losartan 100 mg/day were included. Serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, 25-hydroxy vitamin D, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, interleukin 6 and 24-hour urinary N-terminal telopeptide were measured at the beginning and after 12 weeks of treatment.

Results: When treatment arms were evaluated together, significantly increased 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels (=0.01), and decreased parathormone (PTH) (<0.001), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (=0.01), osteocalcin (=0.045), urinary N-terminal telopeptide (<0.001) and interleukin 6 levels (=0.006) were observed. After eliminating the 25-hydroxy vitamin D effect, significant changes were not observed at any of the parameters. None of the levels of parameters were different between groups.

Conclusions: Neither telmisartan, despite its partial peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ agonistic effect, nor losartan treatment had significant effects on bone turnover markers in newly diagnosed stage I hypertensive patients.