Abstract
Osteoporosis is, with its high prevalence in the population and with its complications, one of the most severe diseases and source of economical problems. Effective therapy relies upon the active cooperation of the patient and a reasonable life style, supplements of calcium and vitamin D.
The so far applied therapy is mostly antiresorptional ? it absorbs the origin and activity of osteoclasts. This may be both hormonal estrogen substitution and three classical groups of drugs: calcitonin, biophosphonates, and selective modulators of estrogen receptors.
All these antiresorption preparations diminish the relative risk of vertebrae or proximal femur fractures. New preparations having anabolic influence on the bone and stimulating the activity of osteoblasts are coming on the market.
Their benefit consists in their combined effect, when the stimulation of osteoneogenesis is often accompanied by a fall in resorption.