[Osteoporosis--prevention and therapy].

If after appropriate evaluation of risk factors the decision of osteoporosis prevention is made, various advice can be given to the patients: regular physical training, diet rich in calcium (milk products), calcium and vitamin D supplementation and, during peri- and post-menopause, the early substitution of oestrogens/gestagens. When osteoporosis is already established, there are the following strategies: diminishing patients anxiety, non-narcotic analgesics and early mobilization after acute vertebra compression. After osteoporosis has passed from acute to established phase, daily physical exercise and ergonomics, sufficient calcium and low dose of vitamin D supplements are useful. Calcitonin or repetitive cycles of bisphosphonates are particularly effective in high-turnover osteoporosis. Because there is still lacking evidence of efficiency, low-dose fluorides should be only used in controlled clinical studies and in combination with calcium.