A method of treating a mammal for a purpose selected from the group
consisting of (a) increasing bone mineral density (BMD), (b) treating low
BMD, (c) preventing and treatment of low impact fractures, (d) treatment
of high impact fractures; (e) treating osteoporosis; (f) modulating a
growth factor that influences bone metabolism; and (g) improving bone
micro-architecture or connectivity of bone; the method comprising
administering to the mammal an effective amount of a
N-acylated-2-glucosamine derivative of the general formula (I):
##STR00001## wherein R is an alkyl radical of the general formula
C.sub.nH.sub.2n+1 and n is selected from 2-12; or
pharmaceutically-acceptable salts, esters and glucosides thereof; or
pharmaceutically-acceptable compositions thereof.