Inclusion Criteria:

• be female
• at least 5 years post menopausal but <85 years

• BMD T-score (at the lumbar spine or total hip) of less than or equal to

  • 2.5, or T-score less than or equal to -1 with a low trauma fracture.
• be ambulatory
• be able and willing to participate in the study and provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• have evidence of a clinically significant organic disease which could prevent the patient from completing the study
• have a BMI less than 18 or greater than 35
• abuse alcohol or use illicit drugs or who consumed more than 4 servings of any alcoholic beverage one day prior to the visit (i.e., subjects who might be binge drinkers)
• have any history of cancer within the past 5 years excluding skin cancer non melanomas
• have a history of ongoing conditions or diseases known to cause abnormalities of calcium metabolism or skeletal health (secondary osteoporosis)
• Chronic renal disease (as defined by a creatinine clearance of ≤ 30ml/min)
• Acute or chronic hepatic disease
• Malabsorption syndromes
• Hyperthyroidism as manifested by TSH outside the lower limit of the normal range
• Hyperparathyroidism
• Hypocalcemia or hypercalcemia
• Osteomalacia
• Cushing's syndrome
• Patient who are currently on glucocorticoid therapy
• have a serum calcium less than 2.2 mmol/l and a PTH above 75ng/l
• have a history of any known condition that would interfere with the assessment of DXA at either lumbar spine or femoral neck
• have markedly abnormal clinical laboratory parameters that are assessed as clinically significant by the investigator

• use any of the following medications within 12 months of starting study drug

  • Bisphosphonates (at any dose)
  • Use of any fluoride with the exception use for oral hygiene
  • Strontium
  • Other bone agents (i.e., SERM, isoflavones, HRT etc)
• have participated in another clinical trial involving active therapy 3 months prior to randomisation
• have a history of allergic reaction to bisphosphonates
• patient taking calcium supplements within the last month prior to randomisation
• We will exclude patients with secondary osteoporosis, those who have been on anti-resorptive treatments in the past year, and women less than 5 years since menopause, and those with bilateral fractures in the measurement regions (heel, hip and forearm).
• Have suffered a recent fracture within the last 12 months