An initial study gives hope for the availability of an effective and cheap treatment for osteoporosis.

Studies by scientists at the Women’s College Research Institute and the University of Toronto, Canada, indicates that the use of nitroglycerin ointment has a potential to increase bone density and to prevent osteoporosis.

As reported by the Journal of the American Medical Association, the use of nitroglycerin ointment for two years in postmenopausal women gives a significant effect on increasing bone mineral density (BMD) and decreasing bone resorption.

“Nitroglycerin can stimulate bone formation and prevent resorption. It can give an effect on bone density and structure,” said researchers in their report.

Nitroglycerin previously has been used extensively as a vasodilator, a drug that causes dilation of blood vessels and helps to solve heart disease such as angina and chronic heart disease.

Sophie Jamal and her team tested the efficacy of nitroglycerin ointment for the incease of bone mineral density in the lumbar spine, femoral neck and pelvis. In addition to using nitroglycerin, the researchers also used a placebo as a comparator.

A total of 243 postmenopausal women were included in the research that took place during November 2005 to March 2010. Respondents were randomly selected to use nitroglycerin ointment or placebo, which is massaged before sleep for two years.

The results show the group given nitroglycerin showed a significant increase in BMD at the lumbar spine (6.7 percent), hip (6.2 percent), and femoral neck (7.0 percent) for 24 months than those who were given placebo.

Users nitroglycerin also experienced BMD increase and bone strength on the radius and tibia bone. Besides it, compared to placebo, the use of nitroglycerin was significantly associated with specific alkaline phosphate increase, which is a marker of bone formation and decrease in N-telopeptide (markers of bone resorption).

Meanwhile, reports of serious side effects are not too different between the two groups. Among the group who continued treatment for 24 months, headaches cases reported occured in 35 percent of nitroglycerin users and 5.4 percent in the placebo group during the first month and showed a decrease after 12 months.

“In conclusion, the use of nitroglycerin ointment increases bone formation and decreases resorption so that it improve BMD, bone structure and bone strength index at least better than medication at this time. The findings also indicates the use of nitroglycerin per day lowered the risk of vertebral and non-vertebral fractures. Efficacy of nitrate reducing fracture risk should be examined again in a larger scale, randomized and controlled, “he said.