The present invention relates to a method for promoting osteogenesis by contacting osteoblast progenitor cells with an LXR agonist. Said method is useful for the treatment or prevention of an imbalance in bone homeostasis in a subject using bone homeostasis-promoting compositions comprising an effective osteogenic stimulating amount of an LXR agonist in admixture with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. A further aspect is a method to produce bone tissue in vitro by contacting an LXR agonist with a population of osteoblast progenitor cells on a substrate, for a time sufficient to stimulate the generation of a matrix of bone tissue.