The effect of zoledronic acid on the fracture risk in men with osteoporosis.

BACKGROUND: Prospective, placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized studies on osteoporosis treatment with bisphosphonates in men are rare. This review focuses on a recent trial and compares the results with other studies.

METHODS: This review provides a summary of recent literature on fracture risk in men following treatment with zoledronic acid. According to a recent clinical study with 1,199 men, zoledronic acid was linked to a lower risk of vertebral fractures. In this manuscript, a re-analysis of the presented statistical data will be demonstrated by performing a Bonferroni-correction to adjust for type 1 error accumulation in multiple statistical tests.

RESULTS: It will be shown that the provided evidence linking zoledronic acid to a lower fracture risk in male osteoporosis is true, but less pronounced than originally assumed.

CONCLUSION: Comparative clinical studies are recommended, where the benefits of different bisphosphonates are compared to each other under the same experimental conditions.