[Effects of estrogen and selective estrogen receptor modulators on osteoporosis].

Evidence indicates that estrogen and raloxifene hydrochloride, a selective estrogen receptor modulator, prevent bone loss and reduce the risk of bone fractures in postmenopausal women. However, recent reports indicate that the health risks associated with the use of estrogen, which include breast cancer and coronary heart disease (CHD), exceed the benefits. In contrast, raloxifene is associated with a lower incidence of breast cancer and is not associated with CHD. Therefore, the use of raloxifene is preferable for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal patients.