Strontium ranelate: a look back at its use for osteoporosis

Importance of the field: Osteoporosis is now considered a major health problem in all developed and in most developing (non-African) countries.

Areas covered in this review: In this review, we provide an extensive literature survey (MEDLINE, PubMed, Cochrane Controlled Register), for articles dealing with osteoporosis management and/or strontium ranelate, from 1920 to 2010.

What the reader will gain : The objective is to provide an extensive, unbiased assessment of the available data allowing strontium ranelate to be placed in perspective with other anti-osteoporosis treatments.

Take home message : Owing to a positive benefit-to-risk ratio, strontium ranelate may now be considered a first-line treatment in the management of osteoporosis.