What is an accurate statement about teriparatide for treating osteoporosis?

What is an accurate statement about teriparatide for treating osteoporosis?

• A. It requires increased intake of vitamin A
• B. It prevents existing bone from being destroyed
• C. Osteoblastic activity is stimulated more than osteoclastic activity
• D. Sunscreen should be used to prevent vitamin D absorption

Answer: (C)

Teriparatide is a synthetic form of parathyroid hormone that promotes bone formation and is specifically indicated to treat osteoporosis, particularly in individuals at high risk for fracture. The correct statement highlights that teriparatide stimulates osteoblastic activity more than osteoclastic activity, which is pivotal in improving bone mineral density and overall bone health. Osteoblasts are the cells responsible for new bone formation, while osteoclasts are involved in bone resorption or breakdown. In osteoporosis, there is an imbalance where bone resorption occurs at a faster rate than bone formation, leading to weakened bones. Teriparatide reverses this trend by significantly increasing osteoblastic activity, resulting in the formation of new bone, thus enhancing bone density and decreasing fracture risk. This mechanism of action underscores the importance of teriparatide in therapeutic strategies for managing osteoporosis, making the statement about the stimulation of osteoblastic activity accurate and central to understanding the drug's role in treatment.

Teriparatide is a synthetic form of parathyroid hormone that promotes bone formation and is specifically indicated to treat osteoporosis, particularly in individuals at high risk for fracture. The correct statement highlights that teriparatide stimulates osteoblastic activity more than osteoclastic activity, which is pivotal in improving bone mineral density and overall bone health.

Osteoblasts are the cells responsible for new bone formation, while osteoclasts are involved in bone resorption or breakdown. In osteoporosis, there is an imbalance where bone resorption occurs at a faster rate than bone formation, leading to weakened bones. Teriparatide reverses this trend by significantly increasing osteoblastic activity, resulting in the formation of new bone, thus enhancing bone density and decreasing fracture risk.

This mechanism of action underscores the importance of teriparatide in therapeutic strategies for managing osteoporosis, making the statement about the stimulation of osteoblastic activity accurate and central to understanding the drug's role in treatment.