Apart from estrogen deficiency, the early postmenopausal period is also characterised by an increasing inflammatory and oxidant status, which further contributes to the development of osteoporosis/osteopenia. The link between systemic inflammation and osteoporosis has only been established recently as it was found that higher circulating hsCRP levels are associated with lower bone mineral density in both healthy pre- and postmenopausal women. Furthermore, it was already known for a long time that one of the most important cytokines implicated in the pathogenesis of various metabolic bone diseases, including postmenopausal osteoporosis, is interleukin (IL)-6, which is produced by osteoblasts, monocytes and T-cells.