A recent research that analyzed data from the US-government-led Women's Health Initiative (WHI), sponsored by National Institutes of Health, has found that the 'bisphosphonates' category of bone-building drugs can bring about a notable reduction in the risk of breast cancer.

The research, presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium on Thursday, revealed that bone-building drugs - commonly used by women for fighting osteoporosis - not only help reduce the risk of breast cancer, but also play a vital role in keeping women healthy.

The study that observed more than 150,000 postmenopausal women who participated in the WHI found that the women who were taking bisphosphonates - namely Fosamax (alendronate) - reported a 32 percent reduction in invasive breast cancer rates, vis-à-vis the women who were not using these bone-building drugs.

Commenting on the findings of the research, Dr. Adam Brufsky, associate director of clinical investigation at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, said: "Bone loss and potential fractures are a known complication of breast cancer therapy. Our feeling is that bisphosphonates may actually prevent disease recurrence through a variety of mechanisms."

However, since the study is not based on any randomized, controlled clinical trial, wherein women were randomly assigned to take bisphosphonates, the results are not definitive. Nonetheless, this apparently is the best evidence till date about the role that bisphosphonates seemingly play in reducing women's risk of breast cancer.