Osteoporosis is a chronic, progressive disease, characterized by loss of bone mass, micro architecture, and elasticity, which increases its fragility and the risk of fracture.

Osteoporosis can be classified in primary and secondary. In the former, loss of bone mass is associated with aging in both sexes. The latter is caused by chronic diseases, medicines and nutritional deficiencies such as: Steroids, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Alcoholism, Menopause, Vitamin D Deficit, among others.

Women and men over 50 years already fit the osteoporosis criteria in 18% and 6% respectively. In the U.S.A. 1.5 million fractures attributable to osteoporosis occur each year.

Guide for the realization of the bone densitometry in High Risk individuals:

1.Men or women with previous spontaneous fractures
2.Men or women with previous steroid therapy during more than three months.
3.Women aged over 65 years.
4.Transplanted men or women.
5.Men or women with prolonged immobilization, greater than a year.
6.Menopause women with less than 65 years with at least one additional risk factor, of:
a) Natural or surgical menopause before 40 years of age.
b) Accentuated tabaquism habit (1 pack per day).
c) Received hormonal replacement for more than 10 years.

Non-Pharmacological Prevention and Treatment Therapy:

Calcium supplements prevent bone mass loss and reduce the risks of fractures. The combined Vitamin D administration helps the absorption of calcium.

Regular exercise increases muscular mass, balance, coordination and avoids falls in aged people. It is necessary to prevent falls in high risk patients with: dementia, Hypotension Postural, Visual disorders, and dangerous environments.

Pharmacological Prevention and Treatment Therapies: The synthetic therapy for Osteoporosis consists of Biphosphonates (sodium alendronate, risedronate, and ibandronate), raloxifene, nasal Calcitonins and Parathyroid Hormone. These drugs are not easily accessible due to their high cost and can also produce important indirect effects. The available hormonal therapy with estrogens and synthetic progesterone is contraindicated, because it can produce breast cancer, thrombosis, and cerebral and cardiac ischemia.

The Systemic Treatment has been successful in many patients. It consists of superior plants such as Dioscorea Villosa and Angelica Sinensis, and natural products such as Calmax and Glucosamine and Chondroitin sulphate. This treatment prevents and treats osteoporosis without producing indirect effect.