A drug, strontium ranelate, appears to stimulate bone renewal and it appears to slow the natural process of bone destruction that is associated with osteoporosis. In osteoporosis,bone destruction occurs faster than bone renewal. Ultimately that weakens bones, which then fracture under everyday activity.

"The Effects of Strontium Ranelate on the Risk of Vertebral Fracture in Women with Postmenopausal Osteoporosis" published in the January 29, 2004 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine studied 1649 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and at least one vertebral fracture for three years. All of the women were given Calcium and vitamin D supplements before and during the study. Some of the women were given strontium relelate and some of the women were given a placebo.

Lead researcher, Pierre Meunier, M.D. observed that the women who took strontium ralelate had a 49% lower risk of fractures in year one and a 41% lower risk of fractures in year two of the study. Bone density in the lumbar spine increased by 14.4%, by 8.3% at the femoral neck, and by 9.8% at the total hip area at the end of the third year.

This study was sponsored by the privately owned drug company Servier Laboratories Ltd.

The entire article is found at
New England Journal of Medicine

source - The New England Journal of Medicine January 29, 2004 issue.