Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Ipriflavone is a synthetic isoflavone derivative that has been investigated primarily for its potential to prevent and treat osteoporosis, particularly in postmenopausal women. The rationale for its use is based on its ability to inhibit bone resorption and possibly stimulate bone formation. Several studies conducted in the 1980s and 1990s suggested that ipriflavone could help maintain or increase bone mineral density (BMD) by inhibiting osteoclast activity—the cells responsible for bone breakdown.

However, more recent and larger randomized controlled trials have cast doubt on its efficacy. The most notable is a 2001 multicenter, placebo-controlled trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine, which found that ipriflavone did not prevent bone loss or fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Additionally, some participants on ipriflavone developed lymphocytopenia, raising concerns about its safety profile.

Despite early promise and a mechanistic rationale, the overall scientific evidence supporting ipriflavone's use for osteoporosis is weak. It is not widely recommended in clinical guidelines, and its use has declined as more effective and safer treatments (such as bisphosphonates and selective estrogen receptor modulators) have become available. In summary, while ipriflavone has a scientific basis for its initial use in osteoporosis, substantial clinical evidence does not support its effectiveness, resulting in a low evidence rating.

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