Comparative study of dimephosphon and xidiphone efficacy in steroid-induced osteoporosis in rats

The efficacy of dimephosphon in comparison with xydiphone was studied in rats with an osteoporosis model induced by prednisolone administration at a daily dose of 50 mg/kg over a period of 14 days. The prednisolone treatment led to an increase in the content of oxyproline (a marker of bone resorption), calcium, and inorganic phosphates in the urine. Dimephosphon (monophosphate) decreased the levels of oxyproline, calcium, and inorganic phosphate in the urine. Xydiphone (biphosphonate) equally reduced the oxyproline excretion and the calcium level in urine, while rather insignificantly affecting the phosphaturia. Dimephosphon normalized the blood calcium level, while xydiphone decreased this parameter. An additional advantage of dimephosphon over xydiphone was manifested by normalization of the body weight of test rats and the total blood protein level.