Objective: We have not identified any objective evidence in the literature about the effects of raloxifene treatment on the antioxidant and antiinflammatory markers. We investigated the antioxidant/anti-inflammatory effects of raloxifene and the association of its antioxidant/antiinflammatory effects with body mass index (BMI) and postmenopausal period in women with osteoporosis (OP).

Materials and Methods: Fourteen postmenopausal women with OP were enrolled in this study. Raloxifene hydrochloride 60 mg/day was administered for 6 months. The oxidant/antioxidant state was evaluated by measuring erythrocyte catalase (e-CAT) and paraoxonase (PON1) activities, levels of thiobarbituric acid (e-TBARS), serum diene, total antioxidant activity (AOA), trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) and anti-inflammatory effects were assessed by measuring tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, Interleukin (IL-6), IL-18, IL-10 and adiponectin levels. Plasma cytokine (TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-10, IL-18) levels were measured by ELISA kits and antioxidant parameters were determined by spectrophotometry. Serum levels of all parameters were measured at baseline and end of the study.

Results: IL-6 level was significantly decreased but IL-10 and PON1 levels were significantly increased after the study treatment (p<0.05). Raloxifene treatment significantly decreased IL-6 levels when postmenopausal period was longer than 10 years and BMI was <30 kg/m2 (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Raloxifene resulted in a significant decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 and significant increases in anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and antioxidant PON1 levels in women with OP. BMI and postmenopausal period are both associated with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of raloxifene in postmenopausal period.