"For years after it was administered growth hormone continued to reduce the risk of fractures and helped maintain bone density in postmenopausal women who had osteoporosis according to a new study published in the Endocrine Societys Journal of Clinical Endocrinology  Metabolism. Osteoporosis http is a progressive condition that causes the bones to become weak and more likely to break. More than  million American adults have osteoporosis and  percent of the people being treated for the condition nationwide are women according to the Societys Endocrine Facts and Figures Report httpendocrinefacts.orghealthconditionsbonecalcium. Women are three times more likely to experience an osteoporosisrelated bone fracture in their lifetimes than men. Our study is the largest and longest controlled study of growth hormone treatment for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women to date said one of the studys authors Emily Krantz MD of Sdra lvsborgs Hospital in Bors Sweden. Years after treatment stopped women who were treated with growth hormone still experienced improved bone density and reduced fracture risk. During an monthlong randomized doubleblind trial  postmenopausal women with osteoporosis received daily injections of either placebo a single unit of growth hormone or a .unit dose of growth hormone. The women were between the ages of  and  when they were recruited for the decadelong study. After  months the women who received the placebo halted the injections. Women who received growth hormone continued to receive injections for another  months. The researchers continued to follow up with the women for seven years after the growth hormone treatment was halted to monitor their bone density fractures and perception of their quality of life.  The researchers compared the participants bone density and rate of fractures to those of a group of  women who did not have osteoporosis. The controls were identified using the city census in Gothenburg Sweden. A decade after the study began the women who received the larger growth hormone dose still had higher bone mineral density levels than the participants who received the lower dose or the placebo. The rate of fractures in the treated women who had osteoporosis declined by  percent during the yearlong study. More than half of the participants had fractured bones prior to the start of the study. In contrast the rate of fractures rose fourfold in the control group as some of those women were diagnosed with osteoporosis. The findings indicate the beneficial effects of growth hormone remained long after the treatment ceased Krantz said.   Other authors of the study include Penelope Trimpou and Kerstin LandinWilhelmsen of Sahlgrenska University Hospital at the University of Gothenburg in Gothenburg Sweden. The study Effect of Growth Hormone Treatment on Fractures and Quality of Life in Osteoporosis  A year Followup was published online at httppress.endocrine.orgdoi.jc. ahead of print.  Founded in  the Endocrine Society is the worlds oldest largest and most active organization devoted to research on hormones and the clinical practice of endocrinology. Today the Endocrine Societys membership consists of over  scientists physicians educators nurses and students in  countries. Society members represent all basic applied and clinical interests in endocrinology. The Endocrine Society is based in Washington DC. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology visit our site at http Follow us on Twitter at httpstwitter.comEndoMedia httpstwitter.com."