Which medication is known to affect bone metabolism?

• A. Heparin
• B. Dilantin
• C. Corticoids
• D. Calcium supplements

Answer: (B)

The medication that is known to significantly affect bone metabolism is corticoids. Corticoids, also known as corticosteroids, are a class of steroid hormones that can influence various physiological processes in the body, including bone metabolism. Chronic use of corticosteroids can lead to decreased bone density, resulting in conditions such as osteoporosis. This is primarily due to their effects on calcium absorption, vitamin D metabolism, and suppression of osteoblast function, which inhibits bone formation.

Other medications listed may have incidental effects on bone but are not as directly impactful on bone metabolism as corticosteroids. For example, heparin is an anticoagulant that may cause bone loss when used long-term, but its primary function is not related to bone metabolism. Dilantin, an anticonvulsant, can also affect bone health through vitamin D metabolism, but its impact is not as significant as that of corticosteroids. Calcium supplements, while crucial for bone health and necessary for proper bone mineralization, do not inherently affect the biochemical bone metabolism processes in the same way that corticosteroids do. Thus, knowing the role that corticosteroids play in altering bone density is essential for understanding medication impacts on bone health.