Nandrolone decanoate treatment of post-menopausal osteoporosis for 2 years and effects of withdrawal.

This study investigated the effects of nandrolone decanoate (ND) therapy (50 mg i.m. every 3 or 4 wk) on bone mass and soft tissue body composition in post-menopausal women. Twenty-two (22) women were followed up over a period of 30 mth, during which they received ND therapy for 12-24 mth and were treatment-free for the other 6-18 mth. While they were receiving treatment forearm bone mineral content (BMC) and lean body mass (LBM) increased, whereas fat mass (FM) decreased. After withdrawal of ND therapy the BMC, LBM and FM values all tended to return to pretreatment levels. Serum high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol showed a non-significant decrease, while serum low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol and serum total cholesterol remained unchanged during therapy. It was concluded that ND therapy can achieve an increase in BMC in post-menopausal women, but this is maintained only for as long as therapy is continued.