Inositols and Bone Health: Potential Therapeutic Applications in Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment.

The mechanisms underlying the disruption of bone balance are well known. To date, several possible treatments exist for osteoporosis, mostly based on inhibition of bone resorption. However, as osteoporosis is a disease that causes significant fragility, it merits a proactive prevention-based approach, which identifies risk factors, such as nutritional deficiencies, during the preosteoporotic stage. In this context, nutraceuticals may find application in delaying the onset of osteoporosis and prior to the need for pharmaceutical invention. The beneficial effects of inositol supplementation have been extensively studied in endocrinology and gynecology; herein, we discuss the potential of inositols in the prevention of osteoporosis, highlighting the link with bone metabolism and possible future applications.