Bone material quality in transiliac bone biopsies of postmenopausal osteoporotic women after 3 years of strontium ranelate treatment

Strontium ranelate (SrR) is a relatively new treatment for osteoporosis. In this study we investigated its potential impact on human bone material quality in transiliac bone biopsies from postmenopausal osteoporotic women treated 3 years with calcium and vitamin D plus either 2 g SrR per day or placebo. Bone mineralization density distribution (BMDD), strontium (Sr) concentration, collagen cross‐link ratio, and indentation modulus were analyzed by quantitative backscattered electron imaging, electron‐induced X‐ray fluorescence analysis, synchrotron radiation induced micro X‐ray fluorescence elemental mapping, Fourier transform infrared imaging, and nanoindentation, respectively. The BMDD of SrR‐treated patients was shifted to higher atomic numbers (Zmean +1.5%, p