The present invention provides novel biomaterials comprising one or more of Mg, Zn and F ions in a 
carbonate-containing 
biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) 
system. The 
biomaterial may contain Mg, Zn, F, Mg and Zn, Mg and F, Zn and F, or Mg, Zn and F. The 
biomaterial may be substantially similar in composition to 
bone mineral (a 
carbonate apatite). The 
biomaterial may feature slow release of Mg, Zn, F, Ca, and P ions. The 
biphasic calcium phosphate, BCP, may be a mixture of unsubstituted hydroxyapatite (HA) and unsubstituted .-TCP, Ca3(PO4)2. BCP of varying HA / .-TCP ratios may be produced by 
sintering calcium-deficient 
apatite, for instance having a Ca / P<1.5, 1.6, 1.67, 1.75 or 1.8 that has been prepared either by a 
precipitation or by a 
hydrolysis method or by a 
solid-state reaction. The amount of each component (by weight %) present in the biomaterials may be as follows: Mg 0.5 to 12 wt %, Zn 1 to 12 wt %, F 0.1 to 4 wt %, 
calcium 20 to 40 wt %, 
phosphate 10 to 20 wt %, and 
carbonate (CO3) 1 to 20 wt %. The biomaterial may further comprise one or more other 
ion such as 
strontium, 
manganese, 
copper, 
boron or 
silicate, or one or more other organic 
moiety such as a 
protein, 
a peptide, or a 
nutraceutical which may provide 
antioxidant, anti-bacterial or anti-inflammatory properties. The invention also provides methods of inhibiting 
bone resorption, methods of treating 
osteoporosis or delaying the onset of 
osteoporosis, methods of treating a 
bone fracture, and methods of inhibiting 
osteoclast activity. Further, the invention provides methods of treating or reversing bone deficiencies such as bone loss, similar to 
osteoporosis, caused all or in part by a mineral deficient diet, a 
disease such as 
cancer or 
osteopenia, a treatment such as 
steroid therapy or 
radiation therapy, or a physical condition such as immobilization.