The role of selective estrogen receptor modulators in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis

Osteoporosis can affect almost everyone in the population, and although cli nical outcome of fracture is manifested in late life, the disease process b egins in the early postmenopausal years in women. The pharmacologic agents currently available for osteoporosis prevention and treatment act by inhibi ting bone resorption, and include estrogen or hormone replacement therapy ( estrogen with progestin), bisphosphonates, salmon calcitonin nasal spray, a nd selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs). Raloxifene is a benzothi ophene SERM that has estrogen against effects in bone and on serum lipid me tabolism and estrogen antagonist effects on breast and uterine tissue. This article summarizes the effects of these antiresorptive agents, as measured by changes in bone mineral density, biochemical markers of bone turnover, and incident fractures in postmenopausal osteoporosis.