Claimed effect · Teriparatide

Does Teriparatide help with bone mineral density?

A
Grade A — established in humansSame RCT + many · effect size: large
Short answerEstablished in humans. Same RCT + many point the same way: a large effect. Spine density rose 9–13 percentage points more than placebo, femoral neck 3–6 — the largest gains of any osteoporosis drug — with a small loss at the wrist shaft.

What the studies show

Spine density rose 9–13 percentage points more than placebo, femoral neck 3–6 — the largest gains of any osteoporosis drug — with a small loss at the wrist shaft.

“As compared with placebo, the 20-microg and 40-microg doses of parathyroid hormone increased bone mineral density by 9 and 13 more percentage points in the lumbar spine and by 3 and 6 more percentage points in the femoral neck; the 40-microg dose decreased bone mineral density at the shaft of the radius by 2 more percentage points.”

Verbatim, from the abstractNeer RM, Arnaud CD, Zanchetta JR, et al. Effect of parathyroid hormone (1-34) on fractures and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. N Engl J Med, 2001

Several well-run randomised trials in people, pointing the same way. You can plan around this. It still says nothing about whether the effect is worth the side effects for you.

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In context

Teriparatide is the first 34 amino acids of human parathyroid hormone, given as a daily injection for severe osteoporosis. Continuous parathyroid hormone strips bone; a brief daily pulse builds it — which is why the drug works and the hormone's excess does not. In the 1,637-woman trial behind its approval, new spinal fractures fell from 14% to 5% over about 21 months and non-spinal fragility fractures roughly halved. It is a prescription medicine, approved everywhere, with a long safety record; the original two-year lifetime limit was lifted by the FDA in 2020.

Teriparatide is approved (rx). Legal status differs by country — see the regulation section or the jurisdiction pages.

Questions

Is Teriparatide proven to help with bone mineral density?
Yes, as far as human trials can show it: Same RCT + many. LYO grades this outcome A.
What studies are behind the grade?
Spine density rose 9–13 percentage points more than placebo, femoral neck 3–6 — the largest gains of any osteoporosis drug — with a small loss at the wrist shaft.
Is Teriparatide approved for this?
Teriparatide is an approved medicine (Approved (Rx)); whether this particular outcome is a licensed indication is stated on the compound page's regulation section.

Other outcomes for Teriparatide

Written and maintained by LYO Research — how pages are written and checked. Reviewed 10 September 2026. Grades count human evidence only; see how LYO grades. Not medical advice. Correct this page →