The Basic Biology of Estrogen and Bone

Estrogen* influences most, if not all, aspects of bone physiology during postnatal life, including bone growth, architecture and turnover (Table 1). This review will focus on recent advances in understanding the physiological actions of estrogen on mammalian bone. The very interesting action of estrogen on bone and mineral metabolism in other classes of vertebrates has been reviewed elsewhere (1). The reader is also directed to more comprehensive reviews of the in vitro response of bone cells to estrogen (1,2).