Provided is a novel agent for promoting osteogenesis and/or inhibiting
bone resorption, which: can be directly taken from daily meals by mouth
for long periods without any trouble in taste; directly impart a
promoting effect on osteogenesis and an inhibiting effect on bone
resorption to the bone; and can be expected to have therapeutic effects
for preventing or ameliorating/treating various bone diseases. The above
agent includes, as an active ingredient, any one or more of
.beta..sub.2-microglobulin, histone, complement component 3, monocyte
chemotactic protein 1, lysozyme, ribonuclease, prothrombin, cytochrome
P-450, plasminogen, transferrin, thrombin, plasmin, complement component
4, and .beta. defensin, and enzymatic digestion products thereof. Those
substances have a remarkable inhibiting effect on bone resorption by
osteoclasts and/or a promoting effect on osteogenesis via promotion of
the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts.