It is intended to provide an osteogenesis promoter having a remarkable
effect of positively promoting osteogenesis and thus preventing/treating
bone diseases; a preventive/a remedy for bone diseases such as
osteoporosis having both of an osteogenesis-promoting effect and a bone
resorption-inhibiting effect; and a method of screening an active
ingredient for preventing/treating bone diseases by using a compound
having both of an osteogenesis-promoting effect and a bone
resorption-inhibiting effect as a lead compound. It is confirmed that
beta-cryptoxanthin, which occurs in a large amount in peel and sarcocarp
of satsuma orange, has an osteogenesis-promoting effect and a therapeutic
effect on bone disease. Thus, beta-cryptoxanthin or its composition is
used as an osteogenesis promoter, a preventive/a remedy for bone
diseases, a functional food or a food material for preventing/treating
bone diseases and a feed composition.