Clinical efficacy of Gushukang Jiaonang in osteoporosis and its effects on bone metabolism in patients: A retrospective study

Purpose: To investigate the clinical efficacy of Gushukang Jiaonang in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, and its effect on patients' bone metabolism based on its use in traditional Chinese medicine.Methods: Retrospective analysis was conducted on 108 patients with osteoporosis discharged from the North Hospital Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, from January 2021 to January 2023. Patients were divided into study group (n = 54) and control group (n = 54). Control group received oral calcitriol and calcium tablets, while study group orally received calcitriol and calcium tablets and Gushukang Jiaonang capsules in addition. Clinical symptom improvement scores, bone mineral density, serum phosphorus and calcium, and blood alkaline phosphatase levels were compared between the groups.Results: After treatment, total amino terminal prolonging peptide of collagen I in the blood of study group was significantly higher than before treatment (p < 0.05). Osteocalcin was significantly increased before and after treatment in the two groups (p < 0.05). Vitamin D levels were significantly increased before and after treatment, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Gushukang Jiaonang provides patients with efficient, comprehensive and precise prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. It also promotes positive disease regression, which in turn contributes to increase in bone mineral density in individuals. Long-term investigations with a larger population size, more indices as well as multicenter control should be carried out to provide sufficient theoretical basis for use in clinical practice.