Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of risendronate and raloxifene treatments on bone mineral density (BMD) and biochemical markers of bone turnover in postmenopausal osteoporosis. Material and Method: Eighty-tree patients were randomly assigned to two groups. Forty-two patients (group=1) were treated with risendronate (35 mg/ week) and 41 patients (group=2) with raloxifene (60 mg/ day) for a period of one year. Additionally, 1200 mg/ daily calcium and 800 IU/ day vitamin D were given to both groups. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured at lumbar, femur neck and trochanteric regions by dual-energy x-ray (DEXA) at baseline and at the end of the study. Among the markers of bone turnover, osteocalcine (OC), deoxypyridinoline (DPD), and alkaline phosphates (ALP) levels were determined at the beginning, at the end of 6 and 12 months. Additionally, total cholesterol levels were measured. Results: At the end of the treatment, significantly increases in lumbar BMD were seen in both groups (group 1; p 0.001, group; 2 p 0.05). The increases in femur neck and trochanteric regions were significant in only group 1 (p 0.05). In both groups, serum OC (group 1; p 0.01, group 2; p 0.05), DPD (group 1; p 0.001, group 2; p 0.05), and ALP (group 1; p 0.001, group 2; p 0.05) were found to be significantly decreased at 6th and 12th months of the treatment period. There was a significant decrease in the level of cholesterol in 6. and 12. month only in group 2 ( p 0.05). Our results indicated that in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis risendronate treatment increased BMD in lumbar spine, femoral neck and trochanteric region. On the other hand, raloxifene provided an increase only in the lumbar spine BMD. Conclusion: This finding suggested that raloxifene may be an alternative in hypercholesterolemic women who have only spinal osteoporosis. (Osteoporoz Dünyasindan 2006;12:50-4)Key words: Postmenopausal osteoporosis, risendronate, raloxifene

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