Previous studies indicate PTHrP may have a pure anabolic effect on bone. Postmenopausal women taking estrogen with osteoporosis who received daily subcutaneous PTHrP for 3 months exhibited a 4.7% increase in bone mineral density compared to those taking placebo. There were no side effects associated with PTHrP, despite the fact that the doses given were 20 times the usual doses of PTH. In another study, young healthy volunteers received a single, one-time subcutaneous doses of PTHrP in amounts up to 2 mg without any dose limiting toxicities.