Abstract

Context:

The acid load imposed by a modern diet may play an important role in the pathophysiology of osteoporosis.

Objective:

Our objective was to evaluate the skeletal efficacy and safety and the effect on fracture prediction of K-citrate to neutralize diet-induced acid loads.

Design and Setting:

We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial at a teaching hospital.

Subjects:

Subjects included 201 elderly (>65 yr old) healthy men and women (t-score of −0.6 at lumbar spine).

Intervention:

Intervention was 60 mEq of K-citrate daily or placebo by mouth. All subjects received calcium and vitamin D.

Outcome Measures:

The primary outcome was change in areal bone mineral density (aBMD) at the lumbar spine by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry after 24 months. Secondary endpoints included changes in volumetric density and microarchitectural parameters by high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography in both radii and both tibiae and fracture risk assessment by FRAX (Switzerland).

Results:

K-citrate increased aBMD at lumbar spine from baseline by 1.7 ± 1.5% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.0–2.3, P < 0.001] net of placebo after 24 months. High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography-measured trabecular densities increased at nondominant tibia (1.3 ± 1.3%, CI = 0.7–1.9, P < 0.001) and nondominant radius (2.0 ± 2.0%, CI = 1.4–2.7, P < 0.001). At nondominant radius, trabecular bone volume/tissue volume increased by 0.9 ± 0.8%, (CI = 0.1–1.7), trabecular thickness by 1.5 ± 1.6% (CI = 0.7–2.3), and trabecular number by 1.9 ± 1.8% (CI = 0.7–3.1, for all, P < 0.05). K-citrate diminished fracture prediction score by FRAX significantly in both sexes.

Conclusions:

Among a group of healthy elderly persons without osteoporosis, treatment with K-citrate for 24 months resulted in a significant increase in aBMD and volumetric BMD at several sites tested, while also improving bone microarchitecture. Based on the effect on fracture prediction, an effect on future fractures by K-citrate is possible.

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