My first DEXA scan on 05/08/07 diagnosed me with osteoporosis. My second scan was done 07/06/09 after the following treatment: Fosamax 70 mg weekly from 06/18/07 to 12/24/07, two capsules Doctor's Best Strontium Bone Maker daily from 01/21/08 to 07/06/09. Here are my BMD results in g/cm2 and my T-scores for my second scan:
Spine (L1-L4): BMD 0.749, T-Score -2.7
Lt. Hip (neck): BMD 0.563, T-Score -2.6
Lt. Hip (total): BMD 0.739, T-Score -1.7
Despite my best efforts, my scores were not corrected for strontium intake by the radiologist. My first and second scans were not on the same DEXA machine, but they were both on DXA Hologic scanners. Even so, I am very happy with my results. My T-scores improved 10.0% at the spine, 7.1% at the left hip (neck), and 22.7% at the left hip (total). I plan to continue taking strontium citrate.
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.
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Browse the posts and visit the link library of references.
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.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
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Wandering Skeleton
Artist: Joel Hoekstra
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.
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.
For More Information about Strontium
- A Dose-response Study With Strontium Malonate
- A Review of the latest insights into the mechanism of action of strontium in bone
- Antifracture Efficacy Over 10 Years With Strontium Ranelate
- Combination of Micronutrients for Bone (COMB) Study: Bone Density after Micronutrient Intervention
- Echolight REMS Scan of Young, Normal Female
- Effect of bone strontium on BMD measurements
- Effect of Lumbar Scoliosis on DXA Results
- Effects of SrR on Calcium Metabolism
- Effects of strontium ions on growth and dissolution of hydroxyapatite and on bone mineral detection
- Influence of strontium on bone mineral density and bone mineral content measurements by dual X-ray absorptiometry
- Interpretation of BMD Scans in Patients Stopping Strontium
- Melatonin-micronutrients Osteopenia Treatment Study (MOTS)
- National Osteoporosis Foundation
- Osteoporosis And Bone Physiology
- Post-Marketing Assessment of the Safety of Strontium Ranelate
- PubMed Abstract On The SOTI Study
- PubMed Abstract On The TROPOS Study
- Strontium ranelate Aristo
- Strontium Ranelate For Spinal Osteoarthritis
- Strontium: Breakthrough Against Osteoporosis
- Summary Safety Review - Strontium
- The Influence of Strontium on Bone Tissue Metabolism and Its Application in Osteoporosis Treatment
- Thirteen Key Diagnostic Tests
27 comments:
Great results, Bonelady! I'm glad to see that there is hope for patients who refuse to be slaves to the prescription-drug industry. What we need are US-based clinical trials on strontium citrate so a proper correction can be applied to the radiation-density error created by strontium uptake into the bones. And, we need more research on measuring bone strength as BMD doesn't directly relate to fracture resistance.
Dear BoneLady,
I'm very impressed and happy for you. Congratulations, you must be thrilled!! In just 1 and 1/2 years your BMD has improved hugely. I am encouraged, but not surprised, since I had a similar result after taking strontium citrate and I never took any osteoporosis drugs.
I'd say you made the right decision, and let me add, your website is fantastic. I refer folks here all the time, and they thank me for it. And I wish to thank you, as always, for your dedication and hard work because it helps spread the word about a natural OTC supplement that is a much better choice than the bisphosphonates in my opinion, with their nasty side effects.
Thank you for reporting your scores and for helping others through your website and research. I'm a frequent visitor here, and always leave with a smile on my face, especially today.
J
I kept checking back to see the results of your second scan.
Great job!! I'm taking Drs. Best also. Strontium was recommended by my Dr. (I brought it up to her first) for osteopenia in one area.
I'm SO glad we have all this online information.
Keep up the great work, Bonelady!!
Dear BoneLady
Where do you purchase your Strontium?
Pat,
My latest purchase of Doctor's Best Strontium Bone Maker was from
www.iherb.com. They are offering free UPS ground shipping for orders over $40.00. I have also used www.vitasprings.com. Both distributors are reliable and reasonably priced.
I buy the 120-cap bottles for more savings. My first purchase was one 60-cap bottle. I can purchase the same brand at my local health food store, but the online distributors charge less.
BoneLady
Hi Bonelady,
I was happy to see your results !
I've been taking Strontium since January. My urine NTX was 59 in Jan. '09 and my doctor wanted me to back on Actonel based on this test result (I took Actonel from 2003 till March of '07 when I decided on my own to stop taking it). I just had an NTX test done last week and it's now down to 44! I'm very happy to see this, although it's still in the "elevated" range and means that I am still losing bone faster than I'm building new bone. But it's going in the right direction! "Normal" is considered to be 37 or less. I'll have another one done in Jan. '10 along with my DEXA. Will keep you posted.
BTW, after taking Strontium for several months, I noticed that the hip pain that I've had for years is GONE! My husband has spinal arthritis and I'm trying to get him to try Strontium! Will keep you posted on that, too.
Thank you for your blog and all of your great info...
beebones,
Thank you for sharing your urine NTX results. I look forward to reading updates on your progress and that of your husband.
I have to wonder if the recurring bladder infections I've had since taking strontium is a side effect. When I discontinuted the strontium for 2 days the infections went away.
gardernergal, Bacteria, especially Escherichia coli, cause bladder infections. Go see a medical doctor if you are having recurring bladder infections.
Two years ago my doctor recommended Fosamax for the treatment of my osteoporosis. I took it only 3 or 4 months because I did not like the heart burn it caused. When I complained to my doctor, she wanted to prescribe medication for my heart burn. I didn't want to get on that never ending cycle. So, I did some research and read about the success of Strontium in rebuilding bone mass. I started taking Strontium about a year and a half ago. I just had a bone density scan and it showed my BMD in my hips increased by 5%. I am thrilled with the results.
Eileen, I'm thrilled for you!
Were your latest DEXA scan results corrected for the strontium you have been taking. I read that having strontium in your bones increases the DEXA reading without necessarily improving bone strength.
Nevadan,
Apparently, you did not read my post carefully. I succinctly stated below my latest scores, that they were not corrected for strontium. I tried to get them corrected but the radiologist ignored the information I provided on correcting DEXA scans for strontium intake.
Although, strontium can make the BMD appear better than it is, there is good correlation between higher uncorrected BMD with strontium intake and decreased bone fractures. This is why Servier, the French manufacturer of strontium ranelate, is telling doctors it is not necessary to correct for strontium with each DEXA scan for individual patients. If Servier is seeing decreased fracture risk, the patients' bones must be getting stronger with strontium.
Bonelady... glad to read your scores improved after last dexa. Mine is in Oct and I too take strontium will let u know results
Anonymous of 09/26/09,
I'm looking forward to seeing your next DXA results. Good luck to you.
Hello, I'm 40, went through menopause at 32. Scared to take Actonel after reading all the patient reviews on side effects. After reading your posts I think I'll try the Strontium Citrate first to see if this helps. - Bonelady, can you tell me if there are any huge side effects I need to watch out for please?
millie,
The most common side effects from strontium citrate are mild gastric disturbances. When I first started taking it, I experienced constipation and very mild nausea. These symptoms disappeared when I increased my dietary fiber.
Most of the large clinical trials on strontium have been on strontium ranelate. See my post of September 23, 2009 on "Strontium Ranelate Safety" for a discussion of side effects. Most were mild and transient. More serious problems had low incidence rates.
Good luck to you. Let me know how the strontium citrate works out for you.
Hi Bonelady,
I have my DEXA results after one year on Strontium. I've cut the percentage increases by 50% to allow for the Strontium (in parentheses):
My spine (L1-L4) is -3.0. Last year it was -3.3. That's a 4.3% increase (2.15%).
My forearm (total radius) is -1.2. Last year it was the same.
My hip: Femoral neck mean is -2.1. Last year it was -2.5. No percentage calculated here and I can't do it !!
Total proximal femoral mean is
-1.4. Last year it was -1.9. That is an increase of 7.7%
(3.85%).
I did not stop taking the Strontium for 30 days prior to the test. My urine calcium and creatinine were normal. My NTX was 53. Last year it was 62 at the same lab. I did a mail-away home test kit last June and it showed my NTX to be 44, but I think I will put more trust in my hospital lab's results. At least it's on its way down!!
The interpretation notes on my report call my spine "stable" and calls the increase in my hip "mild", so the doctors seem pretty underwhelmed.
But I'm very happy with my results - I feel like I'm on my way to stronger bones! I will continue with the Strontium and next year I will have these results to use as a "Strontium baseline". I hope to overwhelm the doctors next year!
To Anonymous post of 02/26/2010:
Congratulations on your improved DXA and NTX results after just one year on strontium!
Any corrections to one's DXA scores should be applied to the BMD results in g/cm2, not to the T-scores extrapolated from BMD. However, the exact scores really do not matter. The important considerations are to prevent fractures and to feel well.
Best of luck in the future.
The good news came today, regarding my bone density scans done on 12/20/11.
In comparison to my scans done on 9/22/06:
Bone density in my spine shows a 27.3% increase.
Bone density in my total hip shows a 26.7% increase
The femoral neck was also scanned this time, though not previously.
All three areas are now “consistent with normal bone density.”
In my scans done in 2005 and 2006, both the spine and the hip were “compatible with osteopenia.”
From 2006:
My spine BMD was 0.881, spine T-score was -1.5, spine z-score 0.2
Total hip BMD 0.688
Total Hip T-score -2.1
Total Hip Z-score -0.9
From 2011:
Lumbar spine BMD 1.122 g/cm2
Lumbar spine T-score 0.7
Lumbar spine Z-score 2.8
Total Hip BMD 0.872 g/cm2
Total Hip T-score -0.6
Total Hip Z-score 0.9
Femoral Neck BMD .819 g/cm2
Femoral Neck T-score -0.3
Femoral Neck Z-score 1.5
__________________________________
So what have I been doing to effect this change?
Taking strontium citrate 680 mg in the middle of the night when I get up to use the bathroom. I first read about it six years ago here: http://tahomaclinicblog.com/strontium/#art
Taking NOW Full Spectrum Mineral CAPSULES (not tablets) 2 after breakfast and 2 after dinner, along with 1 125 mg capsule of magnesium taurate after breakfast and two after dinner. (I began taking magnesium taurate for atrial fibrillation, not for bone strength.)
Taking 2000 units Vitamin D3 after breakfast and again after dinner (that may be a little too much).
Taking 50 mg. DHEA after breakfast. (I started this because of a lupus diagnosis in 2005. Life Extension recommended it. They also recommend it for osteoporosis. See www.lef.org.)
Using natural progesterone cream 1/4 tsp morning and evening alternating sites (even days on inner arms, odd days on breasts and tummy). I started this in the mid-nineties after reading the work of John R. Lee, M.D. See www.johnleemd.com.
I also take 1 gram Calcium ascorbate (vitamin C) with bioflavonoids morning and night, Vitamin B-50 (11 components) morning only. I have been doing this for more than 30 years.
I eat a large salad almost every day of greens I grow in my year-round garden. I also eat a lot of broccoli, kale, and chard.
During the last 5 years I have eaten almost no dairy products since I am allergic to them.
I have recently begun making and eating natto, the best food source of Vitamin K, but that began too recently to affect the test results. I hope to have even better results in 5 years, after improving my Vitamin K status.
I try to walk at least half a mile every day, often more. I collect water in buckets from my sink and bathtub (started this during the drought a couple years ago when we were asked to save water) I realized it was great weight-bearing exercise, so when the drought ended, I kept doing it. I lift the heavy buckets out of the sink and use the water either on outdoor plants or to flush the toilet.
lilypads,
Wow! You did it! Congratulations!
Thank you all so much for participating in this forum. I am struggling with hopelessness after me second scan showed a deterioration in my scores. I am refusing traditional meds and am just now researching strontium. I can't wait to dive into all the information here. Thank you for giving me a spark of hope.
To: daisy gurl,
I hope you find the answers you're looking for by perusing my blog. If you have questions, be sure to ask. I've been taking strontium citrate for postmenopausal osteoporosis for 10 years now. I feel well and have had no fractures.
You have a lovely blog yourself. I particularly liked the post about bone broth because this type of broth is good for bone health and general health. Another term for bone broth is stock. Your post contained a recipe for fish stock. Stocks made from beef or chicken bones are also nutritious and easier to find in stores. I mention this fact for those of us who are cooking challenged, or just plain lazy.
Here is daisy gurl's bone broth post: http://mymaplehillfarm.blogspot.com/2017/03/beneficial-bone-broth.html
Do you only take strontium and no other supplements? I have fosamax waiting for me but don't want to pick it up. Please let me know as I need to get on something.....thanks much
Hi Dyanne,
You should take time to read my blog. I have posted all my supplements, with an update posted 5 August 2022. Here is the link:
https://strontiumforbones.blogspot.com/2022/08/my-current-supplements.html
I presently taking Tymlos after a tibial plateau fx, on the advice of my orthopedic surgeon and rheumatologist. I am having side effects. Last BMD of L hip is -3.0 one yr ago. I am wondering about starting strontium supplement after taking Tymlos, instead of recommended bisphosphonates
Can't find any research on this. Do you have any info?.
To: Unknown poster of 10/22/2022,
I have not found research on taking strontium after Tymlos. I did find a clinical trial on "Effect of strontium ranelate on lumbar spine bone mineral density in women with established osteoporosis previously treated with teriparatide." The results were good, and the conclusion was that the "data suggest that SR following TPTD administration further increases BMD and could represent an effective sequential treatment." https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19204890/
Since Tymlos is similar to Forteo, my educated guess is that strontium can be used successfully as a follow-up to Tymlos. The reason it is not recommended is that strontium ranelate is not available in the USA and Canada, and doctors don't recommend strontium citrate for osteoporosis because they can not prescribe a supplement.
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