Clinical Inquiry. Do inhaled steroids reduce bone mineral density and increase fracture risk?

No, except perhaps at high doses. Inhaled corticosteroids at low to medium doses (<1500 mcg beclomethasone hydrofluoroalkane per day) for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease don't increase the risk of significant bone loss or fracture at 2 to 3 years follow-up. Higher doses, however, may raise the risk of nontraumatic fracture over 1 to 4 years of follow-up.