Osteoporosis Health Center

The process of bone thinning (osteoporosis) is a natural part of aging. But if you receive treatment early, you may be able to stop or slow the progress of bone loss. Treatment is important to:

• Prevent broken bones.
• Maintain or increase your bone thickness.
• Relieve pain caused by fractures and changes to bones.
• Keep your ability to function physically.

Treatment for osteoporosis includes eating a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, getting regular weight-bearing exercise, and taking medicine to reduce bone loss and increase bone thickness. Even small changes in diet, exercise, and medicine can help prevent spine and hip fractures. Adults who adopt healthy habits can slow the progress of osteoporosis.

See a picture of healthy bone versus bone weakened by osteoporosis .

Initial treatment

If you have been diagnosed with osteoporosis, your doctor likely will recommend lifestyle and diet changes. Eat foods rich in calcium and vitamin D, which are needed for keeping bones healthy and strong.

Your bones need vitamin D to absorb calcium. Getting more vitamin D may help prevent falls in older people who are low in vitamin D.⁶ And some studies show that taking vitamin D may reduce the chances of breaking a bone.⁷ Talk to your doctor about measuring your vitamin D to be sure you are getting enough. The best source of vitamin D is exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D is also added to milk, some calcium supplements, and many multivitamin supplements.

For more information on taking calcium, see:

Osteoporosis: Taking Calcium and Vitamin D.

Exercises, including weight-bearing exercise (walking, jogging, stair climbing, dancing, or lifting weights), aerobics, and resistance exercises are all effective in increasing bone mineral density and strength of the spine. Walking also increases bone mineral density of the hip. And exercise increases strength and balance so you are less likely to fall. Start out at an exercise level that you are comfortable with and work up gradually. To be most effective, weight-bearing exercises should be done for 30 minutes most days of the week, and resistance exercises 2 to 3 days a week. If you stop exercising, your bones weaken and may be more likely to break.

Along with exercise and diet, your doctor will recommend that you not smoke and limit alcohol to no more than 2 drinks a day for men and no more than 1 drink a day for women. For more information on quitting smoking, see the topic Quitting Smoking.

In some cases, medicines are prescribed to protect against bone loss. These medicines include raloxifene (Evista), bisphosphonates such as risedronate (Actonel) and alendronate (Fosamax), and parathyroid hormone (Forteo). It's important to get enough calcium and vitamin D and take prescribed medicine for the disease. You need calcium and vitamin D to build strong, healthy bones. For more information on taking bisphosphonates, see:

Osteoporosis: Should I Take Bisphosphonate Medicines?