Skeleton Pirate

Skeleton Pirate
Artist: LindaB

WELCOME TO STRONTIUM FOR BONES BLOG

Have you experienced negative, and even dangerous, side effects from Fosamax (alendronate), Boniva (ibandronate), Actonel (risedronate), Reclast (zoledronic acid), Prolia (denosumab), Forteo (teriparatide), Tymlos (abaloparatide), or other drugs prescribed for osteoporosis? If you have, then rest assured there is a safe, effective treatment for this condition. Strontium, primarily in the form of strontium citrate, is taken orally once a day.

Visitors to my blog can leave comments or ask questions and can remain anonymous, if they wish. Their comments are relayed to my g-mail inbox. Below each post, the number of comments for that post is cited and underlined because it is a link. By clicking on that link below any post, a window opens so that a visitor can leave a comment. Ideally, visitors leave comments on posts most relevant to their comments. All comments to my posts are moderated by me.

Browse the posts and visit the link library of references.






Blog Archive

Friday, February 27, 2009

Strontium and Osteoporosis

On July 7, 2008, Sara S. DeHart, MSN, Ph.D., Online Journal Contributing Writer, wrote Strontium and Osteoporosis: A Treatment Not Offered to American Women. "The purpose of this article is to provide a summary of current published research on the mineral strontium and its purported function in preventing osteoporotic fractures in postmenopausal women. This mineral is available through regular medical sources in Europe and is approved for use in 21 European countries." For comparative purposes of what happens to postmenopausal women in the United States, she included a case study of her own "journey through this morass of data and treatment options." Because Dr. DeHart's stated purpose in writing the article so closely correlates with my purpose in maintaining this blog, I have added a link to her article. http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_3458.shtml

7 comments:

Brando said...

Hi there,
I have just started taking strontium.I have just been told that my bone density in my spine has decreased 5.6% in three years. I was quite surprised by this as I am very fit, four to five days a week at the gym, do my calcium vit.D and felt I was doing better with my bones. I was diagnosed at the level of oteo pinea 5years ago and tried fosomax for a year until my dentist had told me of jaw problems associated with the fosomax.My question is do you think that the strontium is effective in rebuilding the bones versus the fosomax. I would appreciate any feedback on this. Thanks

BoneLady said...

Hi! Pat,

I believe that strontium is more effective in rebuilding bone than Fosamax or any of the bisphosphonates. The scientific reason is that the bisphosphonates act to inhibit the osteoclasts (bone breakdown cells); bisphosphonates are antiresorptive agents. Strontium not only inhibits the osteoclasts but also stimulates the osteoblasts (bone building cells); strontium is an anabolic agent. The result is stronger bones.

On a more personal level, I believe strontium is effective because my bone density increased significantly at both the spine and hip after being on strontium for about 18 months. (I had been on Fosamax for seven months and on no medication for one month prior to taking strontium.) My results are posted on this blog.

I wish you the best of luck. Let me know how you do on strontium.

Brando said...

I would like to know how many tablets you took a day to get that increase in 18 months? I have read that sometimes it is better to take less than more of the strontium. What do you think?
Thanks

BoneLady said...

Pat,

The most effective dose is 680 mg elemental strontium daily. A lower dose would have some effect on the bones but would not provide optimal effect.

The number of capsules to take to get 680 mg elemental strontium depends on which strontium citrate brand you are using. I take two capsules daily of Doctor's Best Strontium Bone Maker. For my brand, two capsules comprise one serving and provide 2,194 mg strontium citrate and 680 mg elemental strontium.

It is best to take the strontium on an empty stomach at the same time daily. Separate your strontium from food and calcium supplements by at least two hours. Be sure to also get adequate calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D while on strontium.

Brando said...

Hi;
Thanks for the response. Just wondering though,......I did some research online and came across an article that had two interesting pieces of information:
1) That it's still early in the use of strontium to determine "safe levels", and
2) That one study suggested that levels as low as 170 mg per day were actually as or even more effective than 680 mg per day in reducing fracture risk.
In light of #1,.......might it be more prudent to maybe stay at a lower level?

Any thoughts, from you or others!

Pat

BoneLady said...

Pat,

There are all sorts of articles available online; some are scholarly, others are just plain rubbish, and still others are just marketing ploys. You did not give the source of the article you quoted.

Protelos (strontium ranelate) has been available in several European countries for a number of years. Servier, the company that manufactures it, provides it at a dose of 2.44 grams strontium ranelate with 680 mg of free strontium. The company's research has shown this to be the optimum dose for their product. The company's website at www.servier.com has a wealth of information.

Osteologix, a California-based company doing research on strontium malonate, claims their product (called NB S101 and not approved for sale yet) administered as a once-daily 1-gram tablet with 465 mg of free strontium works better than Protelos because the bioavailability of free strontium has been increased in NB S101 compared with Protelos. However, Osteologix found the most significant improvement in lumbar spine BMD after 3 months with the 2-gram dose. Information about their Phase II Trial can be viewed at www.osteologix.com. There is also an abstract at www.mskreport.com/articles.cfm?articleID=2650.

Doctor's Best, the distributor of the Strontium Bone Maker brand of strontium citrate, says one dose is just over 2 grams, with 680 mg free strontium. Since one dose of this product is two capsules, it is easy to take just one capsule for a 340-mg dose, if you so desire. I will stick with the 680-mg dose.

BoneLady said...

Pat said...

Hi
Here is the link to the article, which includes references at the end.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0ISW/is_274/ai_n16359696/

The article itself is by Dr Alan Gaby.

Cheers!

December 27, 2009

Here is my response to the article:

Alan R. Gaby, MD

Financial disclosure: The author formulated and receives a royalty for a multivitamin-multimineral bone product that contains strontium.

Nothing more needs to be said.

BoneLady

Wandering Skeleton

Wandering Skeleton
Artist: Joel Hoekstra

Osteoporotic Bone

Osteoporotic Bone
Source: www.mayoclinic.com

How Strontium Builds Bones

Strontium is a mineral that tends to accumulate in bone. Studies have shown that oral doses of strontium are a safe and effective way to prevent and reverse osteoporosis. Doses of 680 mg per day appear to be optimal. See my "For More Information About Strontium" links section.

Osteoporosis is caused by changes in bone production. In healthy young bones there is a constant cycle of new bone growth and bone removal. With age, more bone is removed and less new bone is produced. The bones become less dense and thus more fragile.

Scientists believe that strontium works in two ways. It may stimulate the replication of pre-osteoblasts, leading to an increase in osteoblasts (cells that build bone). Strontium also directly inhibits the activity of osteoclasts (cells that break down bone). The result is stronger bones.

When taking strontium, be sure to take 1200 mg calcium, 1000 IU vitamin D3, and 500 mg magnesium daily. It is best to take strontium late at night on an empty stomach. Calcium and strontium may compete with each other for absorption if taken together.