Botanicals in Postmenopausal Osteoporosis.

Plain Language Summary

One of the main age-associated hormonal imbalances women experience during peri- and post-menopause is osteoporosis. Oestrogen plays a protective role in maintaining bone mineral density, so a decrease in this hormone that naturally occurs with menopause leads to an increased risk of osteoporosis. Due to the various side effects associated with pharmaceutical drugs, many women seek complementary or alternative treatments during menopause. The aim of this review is to present the current information on the efficacy and mechanism of plant-derived compounds in modulating menopause-associated bone metabolism. The main plant compounds that have been studied in detail are phytoestrogens, specifically isoflavones. The literature shows these compounds not only prevent bone resorption, but also promote bone formation. This review also highlights the many biologically plausible mechanisms by which these compounds influence bone metabolism. According to these findings, the authors conclude there are many bioactive, plant-based compounds that may be useful alternative therapies for peri- and post-menopausal women experiencing osteoporosis. While there is promising potential therapeutic use for these botanicals, further clinical research is needed.