Women may have a new, old weapon to help fight osteoporosis. According to a recent study, vitamin E may be just as effective as estrogen at preventing bone loss after menopause.

The study involved female rats. After the rats had their ovaries removed, they began to experience bone loss. But rats that were given either estrogen or vitamin E had much higher bone densities after eight weeks. Rats that were given both estrogen and vitamin E did not seem to gain any combined benefit.

Should more tests confirm these results, those who may be at risk for developing osteoporosis will have reason to celebrate. In the meantime, why not take vitamin E anyway? Studies have also shown that taking calcium and exercising regularly helps prevent osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis affects as many as 25 million people in the U.S.