Effect of Diphosphonates on Bone Mineral Density in Men Receiving Androgen Deprivation Therapy for Prostate Cancer

Patients receiving androgen deprivation therapy are associated with increasing loss of bone mineral density (BMD) and higher risk of skeletal-related events. We reviewed and analyzed the influence of diphosphonates on BMD change. A systemic literature research was conducted in PubMed and related bibliographies. The focus of data extraction was BMD percentage change of lumbar spine, total hip, and femoral neck after 12 months. Standardized mean difference (SMD) was pooled with the random-effects model, and metaregression and subgroup analysis were performed to explore heterogeneity. Nine articles (n = 920) were included and finally analyzed after screening 118 articles. We found significant improvement in BMD percentage changes of the lumbar spine, total hip, and femoral neck at 1 year (respectively, SMD = 6.379, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.740-9.018, P < .001, I² = 98.8%, P < .001; SMD = 4.870, 95% CI, 2.256-7.485, P < .001, I² = 98.9%, P < .001; SMD = 3.634, 95% CI, 1.989-5.279, P < .001, I² = 97.3%, P < .001). In individual variable metaregression analysis, application zoledronic acid or not showed a statistically significant influence on BMD percentage change of total hip (P = .018). In subgroup analyses, both zoledronic acid and alendronate showed a significant improvement in BMD percentage changes. Diphosphonates significantly increased BMD percentage changes of the lumbar spine, total hip, and femoral neck in men receiving androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer. Patients with androgen deprivation therapy should be evaluated BMD loss, and timely therapy with diphosphonates may be an appropriate strategy to prevent osteoporosis.