The present invention concerns the use of compounds for preventing and/or treating osteoporosis, for stimulating bone formation, for stimulating the differentiation and mineralization of osteoblasts, or for inhibiting bone resorption in a subject. These novel uses have been found for compounds represented by Formula I and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. wherein: R1 and R2 are independently equal to H, F or OH; A is (CH2)mCOOH, W(CH2)mCOOH, or Y—CH(COOH)—(CH2)p-CH3 when B is H; or B is (CH2)mCOOH, W(CH2)mCOOH, or Y—CH(COOH)—(CH2)p—CH3 when A is H; or A and B are covalently bonded to form a five (5), six (6), or seven (7)-membered cycloalkyl substituted with COOH; where: Y is O, S, HN or CH2; W is 0, S or NH; m is 0-2; and p is 3-7; D is CO(CH2)nCH3 or CHOH(CH2)nCH3 or O(CH2)nCH3 where n is 2-6; and E is H or F.