POST MENOPAUSAL OSTEOPOROSIS: TREATMENT WITH NUTRACEUTICALS

Abstract

Osteoporosis, a silent epidemic has become a major health hazard in recent years. Osteoporosis which increases bone  fragility  and  thereby  the  risk  of  fractures  is  associated  with  high  mortality,  morbidity  and  high  medical  expenses throughout the world. Though ovarian hormone deficiency is a major risk factor for osteoporosis in the postmenopausal women. Phytoestrogens are believed to play a role in maintaining or improving skeletal health. The present work reviews scientific   information on medicinal plants which have been documented for their antiosteoporotic activity. These  plants  may  differ  from  each  other  in  their  mechanisms  of  action,  they  either  bind  with estrogen  receptors which  exhibit responses at  the cellular and  molecular levels, or in  some cases they  act by  improving defense against oxidative stress.

KEYWORDS:   Antiosteoporotic,   phytoestrogens,   medicinal   plants,   postmenopausal osteoporosis.