Osteoporosis is a “quiet epidemic”, said “quiet” because it often does not show any symptoms, or only mild bone pain, patients often feel that it is normal because they are old, so it is difficult to pay attention to it. It is not until a compression fracture or fragility fracture occurs that the patient pays attention and seeks treatment. Moreover, many patients think that the treatment of osteoporosis is “calcium supplementation”, so is this statement correct? First, calcium is the basis of anti-osteoporosis human bones are composed of organic and inorganic substances together, and calcium is a very important part of it. It can be said that calcium is the raw material of bone health and is the foundation of bone health. Therefore, for patients with osteoporosis, calcium supplementation is the most basic part of the treatment of osteoporosis, and it can be said that calcium supplementation provides the raw material for the treatment of osteoporosis. From this point of view, calcium supplementation is the most important part of osteoporosis treatment, this is true. Second, calcium supplementation alone cannot treat osteoporosis, but patients should know that relying solely on calcium supplementation is not effective for osteoporosis! This is because, although calcium supplements provide abundant “raw materials” for treatment, providing a calcium base, the bones do not make good use of these raw materials. Just like building a house, although we can provide a lot of bricks, cement, sand and other materials, but without a good power supply system, and without the hard work of workers, the house still can not be built. In the treatment of osteoporosis, it is necessary not only to provide sufficient “calcium”, but also to allow the intestine to fully absorb this calcium and allow the bones to make full use of it. These are the two types of drugs: active vitamin D and anti-osteoporosis drugs (bisphosphonates, calcitonin, etc.). The role of active vitamin D and anti-osteoporosis drugs Active vitamin D is what we commonly call “alfacalcidol” or “osteoporosis triol”, its role is to promote intestinal absorption of calcium, is an important part of the treatment of osteoporosis. Anti-osteoporosis drugs commonly used are bisphosphonates (alendronate sodium, risedronate sodium, zoledronate sodium), calcitonin (salmon calcitonin, etacrynic acid). Their effect can be understood as “allowing calcium to run to the bone” and “allowing the bone to make full use of calcium”, which is called “increasing bone mass” in medicine. Therefore, only with the combined use of calcium tablets, osteoporosis and bisphosphonates can the three key steps of “calcium supply”, “calcium absorption by the intestine” and “calcium utilization by the bones” be completed. The three key steps can achieve the purpose of treating osteoporosis. Conclusion: Calcium supplementation alone cannot cure osteoporosis! The treatment of osteoporosis requires calcium supplements, but also active vitamin D and anti-osteoporosis drugs (such as alendronate, risedronate, etc.) In fact, a little osteoporosis treatment can be quite a big deal, not just one calcium tablet can fix it! In the future, Dr. Xie will write more patient education articles on functional exercise for osteoporosis and prevention of osteoporosis, welcome your attention. If you have any questions, you are also welcome to visit my clinic, I will do my best to help you!