The effects of thiazide diuretics on bone mineral metabolism.

Thiazide diuretics cause changes in calcium metabolism. Clinically, these changes include a decreased excretion of calcium, and in some instances, this results in a corresponding increase in bone mineral. The study of mineral metabolism in bone is difficult because of the slow turnover rate of bone. For this reason, the rat fracture model was used to study bone mineral metabolism in animals given thiazide diuretics. Fifty rats were divided into four groups: group 1 received a fracture of the right tibia and thiazide diuretics, group 2 received thiazide and no fracture, group 3 received no drugs and a fracture, and group 4 received no drugs and no fracture. At the end of 35 days postinjury, all animals were sacrificed. Biochemical and biomechanical results were analyzed, and revealed that animals that received thiazide diuretics and a fracture had the highest bone mineral content.