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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Blog Archive

Thursday, August 5, 2010

My Daily Supplements

One of my readers asked me to add more information about supplements. I’ve decided to list all the ones I currently take. This list may provide a start for your own research. Each person’s needs will vary depending on age, sex, diet, and health.

Doctor’s Best Strontium Bone Maker, 2194 mg strontium citrate, 680 mg elemental strontium in two capsules
Nature Made Multi For Her 50+ (contains 22 key nutrients, including 1000 IU vitamin D3, 200 mg calcium, 100 mg magnesium, 80 mcg vitamin K, 2500 IU vitamin A with 60% as beta carotene, 25 mcg vitamin B12, 180 mg vitamin C, 60 IU vitamin E, 15 mg zinc, 70 mcg selenium)
Nature Made Vitamin C, 500 mg
Nature Made Vitamin E, 100 % Natural, 400 IU
Kal Extra-Strength Calcium Magnesium (I take one tablet, which contains 500 mg calcium and 250 mg magnesium.)
Kal Bioflavonoids 1000
Finest Natural Zinc, 50 mg
Finest Natural Selenium, 200 mcg
Nature’s Bounty Lutein, 20 mg
Nature’s Bounty Sublingual Vitamin B12, 2500 mcg (I take one tablet Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.)
Bluebonnet Lecithin, 1365 mg (I take three capsules daily.)
Nature’s Way Primadophilus bifidus

Also look up my previous posts:
03/30/2010 “How Much Calcium Are You Getting?” (Includes IOF’s Calcium Calculator)
03/29/2010 “Strontium With Insufficient Calcium and Magnesium, A Case Study”
03/22/2010 “Strontium And Calcium”

12 comments:

Wolfy said...

If you eat sufficient amounts of leafy green veggies like broccoli, you have no need for lutein. Eat carrrots, and your cartone and most of your vitamin A needs are satisfied. Like tomato sauce, then you get lycopene. I believe in minimal supplementation and not nutrient replacement or fads. Strontium is not an approved nutrient and is not recognized by the FDA as a treatment for osteoporosis.

BoneLady said...

Wolfy,

I agree with you that a diet rich in a variety of fruits and vegetables should be the source of most of your nutrients. I incorporate all the foods you mentioned and many more into my diet. My supplements are just that--supplements, not replacements for a healthful diet.

I added lutein to my supplements a few years ago after I developed anterior uveitis in my right eye. I also added extra beta carotene for a while, but recently discontinued it because there is plenty in my multivitamin. I now eat more vegetables than I did then. Even my optometrist sells vitamins for good eye health, so I suppose he believes in them. I do not buy the lutein from him. Taking it just gives me a little insurance.

Strontium citrate is a supplement carried by health food stores and online distributors. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements. This quote is taken directly from the FDA's website:

"Manufacturers and distributors do not need FDA approval to sell their dietary supplements. This means that FDA does not keep a list of manufacturers, distributors or the dietary products they sell."

Anonymous said...

I want to start taking strontium. What is the best way to take it? I have read to take it on an empty stomach and also have read to take it with food. I have been on Fosamax for a year and a half and want to stop.
Thanks in advance.

BoneLady said...

To: Anonymous poster of 08/30/2010:

Strontium is best taken on an empty stomach. Take it AT LEAST two hours after a meal or any supplements containing calcium or magnesium. You can also take it first thing in the morning and then wait at least an hour before breakfast. I take two capsules (680 mg strontium) at 10:00 p.m. every night. I cannot take it in the morning because I take levothyroxine for hypothyroidism early each morning.

I wish you much luck with the strontium. Be sure to get sufficient calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D. I also recommend a good multivitamin, a healthful diet, and an exercise program tailored for you.

Unknown said...

Is there a strotium nade with the magnesium. vit km boron, the essential minerals needed in it> In stead of buying so many different supplements? I have osteoporosis and my doctor wants me to do the newer meds like reclast. I have rheumatory arthritis and of course have taken prednisone. I an 68 and disabled living on ss. I have been trying to treat myself natutally and it is beyond my income. I do not want to do the drugs that dr. wants me to but I qualify for these expensive drugs because of my low income.

BoneLady said...

cyclonejudy,

I cannot recommend any strontium supplement that contains magnesium or calcium because these minerals will compete with strontium for absorption. Strontium is best taken on an empty stomach 2-4 hours away from calcium and magnesium supplements or food.

I understand your concern about costs. When my husband and I retired, we looked at all our supplements and tried to find less expensive ones that would provide similar levels of each ingredient. Nature Made and Nature's Bounty are carried by drug stores,such as Walgreen and CVS, which often advertise two-for-one specials on these brands. We only buy them when they are on sale. Finest Natural is distributed by Walgreen. Doctor's Best Strontium Bone Maker costs twice as much at my local health food store as it does online. By buying at least two bottles of 120 veggie caps each at www.iherb.com, I get free shipping by UPS. The cost is about $42 for four months' supply of strontium.

I hope I have given you some useful ideas on how to obtain vitamins and supplements at lower prices. Also, you don't have to take everything on my list. If you can afford it, take the strontium and a good multivitamin. Eat a balanced diet, and supplement with calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D only as needed. I get 1000 I.U. vitamin D from my multi, the rest from the sun and from 12 oz. fat free milk daily.

Wishing you the very best, BoneLady

Anonymous said...

Good evening from South Africa,
I have just been put on Strontium carbonate by my new homeopath for my osteoporosis which is pretty bad already. However, various medical doctors have tried various medications over the last ten years - and I reacted badly to all of them. My system really does not like chemicals.

I am struggling a little to fit the strontium into my daily routine, as I also take mega calcium which the homeopath wants me to take at night for better absorption, better sleep, and to help with the pain. I know that one cannot take strontium for 4-6 hours near calcium, plus strontium needs to be taken on an empty stomach. I also have hypothyroidism so have to take eltroxin as well - which should not be taken near calcium! All very complicated and confusing.

For the last 3 days, I have taken the strontium tablets on waking together with the eltroxin. Then I have some herbal tea, no milk is allowed I believe so can't have black tea [I'm English!]. Feed the dogs, feed the wild birds, now starving hungry but can't eat........getting grumpy, have shower, what to have for breakfast ? as can't have my normal fruit and yoghurt [calcium], buttered toast [calcium?], oats porridge with milk [calcium]. I will win with this but currently am grumpy about changing my well-established routine. Any suggestions would be most welcome.

Oh yes, I take large quantities of Vitamin D, a multi-vitamin/mineral tablet and two x Omega 3's.

BoneLady said...

To South African Reader:

There are many ways to combine strontium, calcium, other supplements and medications. An empty stomach is defined as two hours after a meal. Strontium should be taken on an empty stomach, preferably at bedtime at least two hours after food, milk, milk products or calcium supplements. You should not eat for at least two hours after taking strontium. This is because food, milk, milk products and calcium can interfere with the absorption of the medicine from the gut and hence make it less effective. If you take your strontium in the morning before breakfast, you should be able to have your breakfast two hours later.

Strontium carbonate is not the best form of strontium because it is harder for the body to absorb it than other strontium salts. In the U.S. the most popular form is strontium citrate, which is what I take. According to Dr. Hoffman at www.drhoffman.com/page.cfm/447: “Strontium is available as strontium carbonate, strontium chloride, strontium sulfate, strontium gluconate and strontium citrate. In clinical research strontium gluconate was absorbed better than strontium carbonate. It is my clinical opinion that strontium citrate is absorbed better than the other forms of this mineral.”

Here is what I do:

At breakfast I have vitamin-fortified cereal and milk. At lunch I have vegetables, one calcium/magnesium tablet (500 mg Ca, 250 mg Mg), and, on most days, a banana and flatbread. With dinner, my largest meal and usually eaten from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., I take my multivitamin and all my other supplements.

At 9 p.m. I take simvastatin, 40 mg (a statin drug for lowering cholesterol. At 10 p.m. I take two Doctor's Best Strontium BoneMaker (strontium citrate with 680 mg elemental strontium; bought online at www.iherb.com). Whenever I wake up during the night to use the bathroom (usually 1-3 a.m.), I take levothyroxine, 50 mcg (drug for hypothyroidism).

Good luck to you. Let me know how you do. If you sign up for RSS feed, you can get instant updates to my blog.

LariH said...

I have osteoporosis and have been taking strontium citrate for the past few weeks. I take the strontium at 4 a.m. daily. I am just starting K2 and see, as instructed on the bottle, that I am to take this vitamin on an empty stomach. Is it okay to take the strontim and vitamin K2 at the same time. I would appreciate anyone's thoughts on this.

BoneLady said...

LariH,

It should be okay to take vitamin K2 with strontium. I say this because I have never read otherwise from any source, including Servier, the company that manufactures strontium ranelate.

Servier lists several precautions on their package leaflet for Protelos (strontium ranelate):

“Taking other medicines:

Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.

-You should stop taking PROTELOS if you have to take oral tetracyclines or quinolones (two types of antibiotics). You can take PROTELOS again when you have finished taking these antibiotics. If you are unsure about this ask your doctor or pharmacist.

-If you are taking medicines containing calcium, you should leave at least 2 hours before you take PROTELOS.

-If you take antacids (medicines to relieve heartburn) you should take them at least 2 hours after PROTELOS. If this is not possible, it is acceptable to take the two medicines at the same time.

Taking PROTELOS with food and drink:

Food, milk and milk products reduce the absorption of strontium ranelate. It is recommended that you take PROTELOS in-between meals, preferably at bedtime at least two hours after food, milk or milk products or calcium supplements.”

Anonymous said...

Hi everyone,
It seems like the last comment is from 2012, i would love to read how it has been going for the last 5-7 years for guys in the results and experience, as I am just about to begin strontium,
Regards,
George

BoneLady said...

Hi George,

Yes, the last comment (before yours) under this post is dated July 18, 2012, but the post, “My Daily Supplements,” is dated Thursday, August 5, 2010. There are newer comments listed under newer posts. I have been taking strontium citrate (680 mg strontium/day) for nearly 10 years; it will be exactly 10 years on January 21, 2018. I feel well and my DXA scan results look great:

http://strontiumforbones.blogspot.com/2015/01/my-dxa-scan-results-look-great-after.html

http://strontiumforbones.blogspot.com/2016/08/my-dxa-scan-on-august-4-2016.html

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.