Osteoporosis is one of the main diseases affecting people around the world. One in three women over the age of fifty will suffer fractures due to osteoporosis and for men the statistics are one in five. With such figures, the search for treatments and preventative measures are a must. At the recent International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) World Congress, highlights included research into the use of strontium ranelate (a compound formed from ranelic acid), bisphosphonates and hormone therapy in the treatment of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis causes bone mineral to dissolve away. As a result, bones lose their density and break easily. Treatments aim to increase a patient's bone mass and strength.