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.

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Friday, January 22, 2010

Strontium Citrate Clinical Trial Still Recruiting

"The researchers are seeking post-menopausal women who are at least one year but less than five years past their last menstrual period. Participation in the study will include a screening visit with blood draw at UC Davis Medical Center, followed by a blood draw and free DEXA scan at the Veterans Administration Northern California Health Care Center."

"Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will take strontium citrate plus calcium and vitamin D for three months, while the other group will take a placebo plus calcium and vitamin D for three months. During the three-month period, participants will visit UC Davis Medical Center three times for short questionnaires and blood draws. DEXA scans and test results can be provided to participants.For more information or to schedule a screening visit, contact Stephanie Burns, study coordinator, at (530) 754-7576 or (916) 734-5562 or scope@phs.ucdavis.edu."

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

There is a new study linking calcium supplementation with heart attacks because calcium supplements may rapidly elevate blood calcium levels, which could contribute to artery disease. Calcium from food does not quickly raise blood calcium. So here's my concern related to strontium. I know you are supposed to take twice as much of calcium as strontium. Currently I take 1000 mg of calcium to balance strontium. I do not eat dairy and try to get food sources from vegetables and soy, etc. But I feel I need supplements to get enough calcium to balance strontium. What is your opinion on this?

BoneLady said...

To Anonymous of 10/09/2010:

The total amount of calcium you are supposed to take--whether or not you are taking strontium--depends on your sex, your age, and whether or not you are pregnant, breast-feeding, or post-menopausal. According to the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), if you are female, age 19+, and post-menopausal, your recommended daily calcium intake is 1300 mg. If you are female, age 19+, not pregnant, not breast-feeding, and not post-menopausal, your recommended daily calcium intake is 1000 mg. The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF)recommendations are slightly different: women ages 19 to 50 need at least 1000 mg of calcium daily; women over 50 need at least 1200 mg. The NOF guidelines do not include post-menopausal status, but many women reach this status much earlier than age 50 due to surgery or physiological causes. I believe post-menopausal women of any age need more calcium than they did before reaching this stage.

To determine how much calcium to supplement, you must first tally up the amount of calcium you are getting daily from your food. The IOF has a nifty calcium calculator at www.iofbonehealth.org/patients-public/calcium-calculator.html. I included this link with my post of 03/30/2010, "How Much Calcium Are You Getting?"

I drink milk and eat soy and vegetables daily. I supplement 700 mg calcium daily--500 mg calcium from a calcium/magnesium capsule that has 250 mg magnesium, and 200 mg calcium from my multivitamin, which also has 100 mg magnesium and 1000 I.U. vitamin D.

I am aware of the new study linking calcium supplementation with heart attacks. Subsequent studies may prove or disprove it. My opinion is to follow a healthy diet and supplement what you are not getting from food. Take the IOF calcium calculator. It does not include all foods, but it is a good start. Remember to take adequate magnesium and vitamin D, in addition to calcium.

Anonymous said...

What is the difference between stronium citrate and stronium renelate?

BoneLady said...

To Anonymous of 02/18/2011:

The drug, strontium ranelate, is made by combining strontium with ranelic acid. Sold as a powder to be dissolved in water, it contains aspartame as a sweetener. It was found to aid bone growth, increase bone density, and lessen vertebral, peripheral and hip fractures. Women receiving the drug showed a 12.7% increase in bone density. Women receiving a placebo had a 1.6% decrease. Half the increase in bone density is attributed to the higher atomic weight of Sr compared with calcium; whereas, the other half is a true increase in bone mass.

Strontium ranelate is registered as a prescription drug for the treatment of post-menopausal osteoporosis in more than 70 countries. It is marketed under the brand names Protelos and Protos by Servier. It is unusual in that it both increases deposition of new bone by osteoblasts and reduces the resorption of bone by osteoclasts. It is therefore promoted as a "dual action bone agent" (DABA). Currently (February, 2011), it is not available in Canada or the United States.

The supplement, strontium citrate, is made by combining strontium with citric acid. It is sold as capsules and therefore needs no artificial sweetener. Strontium citrate, strontium carbonate, and other non-patentable strontium salts are available in the United States without prescription under the Dietary Supplements Health and Education Act of 1994. Some of these supplements provide the recommended strontium content, about 680 milligrams per day. Not all brands are the same, however, and some may not even contain the amounts stated on the labels.

It is the cation (strontium) that is responsible for the pharmalogical effect in strontium salts. There is a long history of medical research regarding strontium's benefits, beginning in the 1950s. Studies indicate minimal undesirable side-effects. The long-term safety and efficacy of strontium supplements have not been evaluated on humans in large-scale medical trials. Studies of strontium ranelate have shown positive results on bone mineral density and bone turnover after eight years of treatment.

Much of this information was compiled from www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki and www.servier.com.

Anonymous said...

Hello Bone Lady,

I wonder if the SCOPE study reported its findings? I have read about it beginning but not the result. Others have also asked the same question and no one seems to know.

Thanks!

Pam

BoneLady said...

Pam,

The SCOPE trial never published its findings. It just stopped abruptly. I contacted Stephanie Burns,the study coordinator. She said she was no longer in that position and had no information about the study. The lead investigator went on a year's sabbatical and could not be reached. The public relations department at UC Davis had no information. The study was never registered as a clinical trial;so, I could not check with www.clinicaltrials.gov/.

It was a great disappointment to me and many other people who were hoping to see the results of this trial. Getting complete silence from the university was frustrating. I'm over it. It happened several years ago.

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.