[Prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. A review of different methods]

This article reviews a number of methods for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis. A preventive treatment achieves the best effect if it is started as soon after menopause as possible. Hormone substitution treatment has in many trials been shown to be effective in stopping the post-menopausal demineralization of the skeleton. Calcitonin is suggested as an alternative to hormone substitution, however this substance is still not registered in Denmark for this purpose. There are today several possible treatments for symptomatic osteoporosis; however, the long-term effect on frequency of new fractures remains to be confirmed. The regulation of a number of "life-style factors" such as diet and exercise is part of both the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.