Abstract
Ipriflavone (IP), chemical structure 7isopropoxyisoflavone, is an isoflavone, synthesized from the soy isoflavone, daidzein. It holds great promise in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and other metabolic bone diseases. Ipriflavone was discovered in the 1930s but has only recently begun to be embraced by the medical community in this country. Over 150 studies on safety and effectiveness, both animal and human, have been conducted in Italy, Hungary, and Japan. As of 1997, 2,769 patients had been treated for a total of 3,132 patient years.