Raloxifene enhances material-level mechanical properties of femoral cortical and trabecular bone.

We have previously documented that raloxifene enhances the mechanical properties of dog vertebrae independent of changes in bone mass, suggesting a positive effect of raloxifene on material-level mechanical properties. The goal of this study was to determine the separate effects of raloxifene on the material-level mechanical properties of trabecular and cortical bone from the femur of beagle dogs. Skeletally mature female beagles (n = 12 per group) were treated daily for 1 yr with oral doses of vehicle or raloxifene (0.