Ferulic acid and its derivatives have attracted scientific interest for their potential role in supporting bone health and treating osteoporosis, primarily based on preclinical studies. Ferulic acid is a plant-derived polyphenol with known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Several animal studies and in vitro experiments have demonstrated that ferulic acid can attenuate bone loss in models of osteoporosis, mostly by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, which are factors implicated in bone resorption and osteoclast activation.

For example, studies in ovariectomized rats—a common animal model for postmenopausal osteoporosis—have shown that ferulic acid supplementation can improve bone mineral density and bone microarchitecture. Proposed mechanisms include upregulation of osteogenic markers, inhibition of osteoclastogenesis, and modulation of signaling pathways such as RANKL/OPG and MAPK. Despite these promising preclinical findings, there is currently a lack of high-quality human clinical trials directly evaluating the efficacy of ferulic acid derivatives in the prevention or treatment of osteoporosis.

In summary, the use of ferulic acid derivatives for osteoporosis is supported by a foundation of laboratory and animal research, but robust clinical evidence in humans is lacking. Therefore, while the scientific rationale exists and early data are encouraging, the overall evidence level remains low (rated 2/5), and more clinical studies are necessary before this ingredient can be recommended for osteoporosis management.