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.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Strontium Citrate Clinical Trial Results By Year End
Data from the three-month strontium citrate clinical trial known as the Scope Study are currently (as of November 4, 2010) being evaluated at the UC Davis Medical Center. Some results should be available by the end of the year. Stay tuned for the latest word from the Scope Team.
Labels:
clinical trial,
Scope study,
Scope Team,
Strontium citrate
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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
23 comments:
55 yr old female with osteoporisis of the spine. Cannot take Fosomax or similar drugs due to prior history cancer/chemo/radiation. Very interested in Strontium Clinical Trials as a participant and certainly updates and results.
Debbie,
I will post results of the Scope Study as soon as they become available. For information about participating in future trials, you can contact Stephanie Burns, study coordinator, at 530-754-7576 or scope@phs.ucdavis.edu. I wish you the best of luck.
HI Bone Lady,
Thanks so much for this blog! I am trying to figure out what to do between the Forteo route, as recommended by a Mayo doctor who tried a parathyroid disease test, or the strontium that you and the non-"medical" field recommend. I'm a scientist, but I am not thrilled at ALL about taking Forteo or going back on Actonel, or any of the routes the "traditional" community recommends.
Anyway, I went to the UCDavis website looking for any news of the Scopes study. I put Scopes study into their search engine and got all the things from 2009 about "please join", but nothing at all about results. Frustrating! But i'll trying your blog, hoping that you have some better luck.
Thanks!
Nancy
To Anonymous of 01/01/2011:
Apparently, the results of UCD's Scope Study are not available yet. I will contact the study coordinator again and see if I can get a publication date. Keep checking back to my blog.
Hi Bone Lady,
Here's the text of the email I just got from Stephanie Burns:
I am no longer coordinator for this study (budget downsizing). As far as I know, there is no mailing list for results. I also don't belive the analyses will be complete until Spring. The UCDMC website may post something when results are available.
Kind regards,
Stephanie
so, we're all on hold. Many thanks for your continued work and encouragement! no need to post this unless you think others will want to know
Thank you so much Bone Lady for this blog! I am 34 and was recently diagnosed with osteoporosis. My doctor's suggested I take fosamax, however, my husband and I are planning to start a family soon. I did some research and found that Fosamax has a half-life of 10 years and is an FDA Category C pregnancy risk, so obv I'd rather not take it... but also understand the importance of strong bones during pregnancy. I've recently heard about strontium as an alternative and stumbled upon your blog in my research. Can you please tell me what if anything you've heard regarding the safety of Strontium for premenopausal women planning to have children. Thank you!!!
Nance,
Most of the published clinical data on strontium is on strontium ranelate (Protelos). The following is from www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/15410/SPC/Protelos/#PREGNANCY
4.6 Pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy
PROTELOS is only intended for use in postmenopausal women. There are no data from the use of strontium ranelate in pregnant women.
At high doses, animal studies have shown reversible bone effects in the offspring of rats and rabbits treated during pregnancy (see section 5.3). If PROTELOS is used inadvertently during pregnancy, treatment must be stopped.
Breastfeeding
Physico-chemical data suggest excretion of Strontium ranelate in human milk. PROTELOS should not be used during breast-feeding.
Fertility
No effects were observed on males and females fertility in animal studies.
5.3 Preclinical safety data
Non-clinical data revealed no special hazard for humans based on conventional studies of safety pharmacology, genotoxicity and carcinogenic potential.
Chronic oral administration of strontium ranelate at high doses in rodents induced bone and tooth abnormalities, mainly consisting of spontaneous fractures and delayed mineralisation. These effects were reported at bone strontium levels 2-3 times higher than long-term clinical bone strontium levels and were reversible after cessation of treatment.
Developmental toxicity studies in rats and rabbits resulted in bone and tooth abnormalities (e.g. bent long bones and wavy ribs) in the offspring. In rats, these effects were reversible 8 weeks after cessation of treatment.
Hello Bone Lady.... I am very impressed from the strontium research and its benefit for bone health.
I am currently recovering from a hip fracture. I live in Australia and cannot obtain strontium salts other than by prescription, which is expensive. However I have been advised to purchase strontium citrate via the internet from overseas, as a cheaper option. There appears to be some good deals on offer. However, I am wary that I may be taken for a ride, and the product may not be genuine.
Can you advise me of genuine sites to purchase strontium citrate. The site I am considering is Vitanet http://vitanetonline.com/description/DRB-00131/vitamins/Strontium-Bone-Maker-340mg/where they are offering stontium bone maker 340 mg capusules (60 Caps) at a sale price of $11.96. To good to be true ?
Hello Hip Fracture,
I have never heard of www.vitanetonline.com; however, $11.96 for 60 capsules of Doctor's Best Strontium Bonemaker is right in line with what I am paying at another online site. Per the site, vitanet is charging $2l.08 for 120 caps and free shipping on orders over $100.
I get my Bonemaker from www.iherb.com. The site charges $12.00 for 60 caps and $21.20 for 120 caps. It offers free UPS Ground for domestic orders over $40.00. I buy two 120-cap bottles each time and get the free shipping. I don't know the shipping fees for international orders.
I have also bought from www.vitasprings.com, but I'm getting slightly better prices and free shipping at iherb. Both sites are reliable.
I have not bought from www.vitacost.com, but I have read positive comments from people who have.
I hope I have helped and I wish you a speedy recovery from your hip fracture.
Hi All,
I have some new DEXA results. I've been taking Strontium since Feb. 2009, so 2 years now.
Now that I'm comparing two years - both when I was on Strontium, I think I can take the percent increases at face value. I had a 1.8% increase in the spine and 1.3% increase in total hip.
Last year spine was -3.0, now -2.8.
Last year total hip was -1.4, this year -1.3.
Last year femoral neck mean -2.1, this year -2.0.
[These T-scores are all unadjusted for Strontium.]
Not huge increases, but I'm happy not to be losing like I did on Actonel. I will continue taking the Strontium for another year.
To Anonymous of 01/23/2011:
Congratulations on your improved DXA scan results after two years on strontium! Thank you very much for sharing the good news.
I agree with you that you can take the uncorrected scores at face value after two years. Servier, the manufacturer of strontium ranelate (Protelos) also agrees and is telling physicians "it is not necessary to adjust BMD for each patient because each increase in BMD is highly correlated (up to 74%) with the decrease in the risk of sustaining a vertebral fracture. In other words with Protelos, the more the increase of BMD in your patient, the more your patient is protected from fracture. Moreover, BMD is a useful monitoring tool to confirm the compliance of your patient." The website is www.servier.com.
You need some facts about strontium use in osteoporosis, so I have asked my friend, Dr. Karl Insogna, the director of the Bone Center at Yale University School Of Medicine to chat with you. He is perhaps the leading U.S. authority in treating osteoporosis and is quite familiar with strontium salts. Here's his profile:
http://medicine.yale.edu/intmed/endocrin/people/karl_insogna.profile
If you look at the top right of his page, you will see his email icon. He knows about your blog and would be interested in chatting with you. If I were you, I would listen to what he has to say.
Thank you for informative website. I presume you have had good results from latest scan? I have deteriotion in spine after few 'stable' years and now need to review options. Hip results seems the same again. I wonder how much strontium is in Protolos and is there any advantage in it over the OTC version of Strontium citrate. The dose is 2 gram but how does that relate to recommendation of 680mg? Being cautious as older sister had bad reaction to it and stopped. How long should one take this supplement? is there a 'window' when it does good and then declines?
Dr. Bones,
I would be happy to hear what Dr.
Insogna has to say. A few days ago, I sent him a very polite email introducing myself and my blog and asking for his opinion on strontium salts. So far, I have not heard back. That is probably just as well. Since this osteoporosis "expert" is based in the USA and is recommended by you, I have to assume he is negative on strontium for osteoporosis.
To Anonymous of 01/27/11:
Yes, my last DXA scan after seven months on Fosamax and 18 months on strontium citrate showed significant improvement. My T-scores improved 10.0% at the spine, 7.1% at the left hip (neck), and 22.7% at the left hip (total). You can see the actual scores on my 07/11/09 blog post, "Improved T-Scores After Treatment." My original scores before treatment are at the top right of my blog.
Strontium ranelate (Protelos)contains 2 grams of the strontium salt and 680 mg elemental strontium. The elemental strontium is the active part. Doctor's Best Strontium Bone Maker, the brand of strontium citrate I take, comes in the same dosage.
Protelos, a powder that is mixed with water, contains the artificial sweetener aspartame. Strontium citrate is sold as capsules with no sweeteners; this is one advantage of strontium citrate. Another is that strontium citrate is made with citric acid rather than ranelic acid, which was patented to use in making strontium ranelate. Citric acid is also used to make calcium citrate.
The main advantage to Protelos is that it is a prescription drug, and, as such, is regulated by the governments of the countries where it is sold. Over-the-counter supplements like strontium citrate are not subject to the same level of regulation.
Clinical studies on strontium ranelate have shown increases in bone mineral density (BMD) for as long as seven years. I do not think there is data beyond that time. However, if you stop taking strontium, your BMD readings will begin to decline.
If my BMD reaches the osteopenia or normal stage, I may reduce my strontium intake to one capsule (340 mg elemental strontium) instead of two capsules. If I start losing ground, I will go back to the full dosage.
Best of luck to you and your sister.
Thanks for answering all my queries so well! I have some strontium ... but also considering vibration machine. Hard to do both and have idea of results.
To: All My Readers
Here is the latest update on the SCOPE clinical trial as of April 19,2011:
"As far as I can tell, there are still no results on the SCOPE study. I know they have started to analyze the data. Hopefully, we'll know something soon. Thank you again, for your continued interest.
Kind regards,
Stephanie Burns"
DOES ANYBODY KNOW IF STRONTIUM CITRATE RAISES YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE. MY MOM IS TAKING IT. I CN'T FIND AN ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION.
THANK YOU
To: Anonymous of 06/19/2013,
I have never read any scientific study showing a rise in blood pressure with strontium citrate or other strontium salts. I have taken strontium citrate for five and a half years. My blood pressure is normal at home and elevated at the doctor's office because I get nervous there.
Many factors can affect blood pressure. Salt (sodium chloride) intake should be limited. Stress should be minimized; yeah, I know, this is easier said than done. Also, you and your mom should check all her medications for possible side effects.
The only way for your mom to know for sure if strontium citrate is raising her blood pressure is for her to stop taking it for awhile--without making any other changes--and see what happens. I wish you and your mom much luck. Let me know how things go for her.
I have been waking up every hour every single night for the past 8 days, and I can't go on like this. Could adding Strontium be partially responsible for this interrupted sleep?
Thanks a Million,
Teddi
Hi! Teddi,
Interrupted sleep is not a known side effect of strontium, but that doesn't mean it could not be a problem for you. Think about any other changes you may have made to your supplements, medications, diet, liquid intake, exercises. Think about any recent health changes and/or changes to your routine daily schedule.
Also, what brand of strontium citrate are you taking. I take Doctor's Best Strontium Bone Maker. Some people cannot tolerate some of the fillers in Bone Maker and other strontium products. There are one or two products with no fillers.
Some people cannot tolerate the full recommended dosage of 680 mg strontium. Taking half a dose for a while, until your body gets used to it sometimes helps.
Good luck. Keep me posted.
Hello, Ms. Bone Lady!
It was recommended that I check out your blog about strontium. My mother who's 87, has had osteoporosis for many years and was on Fosomax for about 10 years. She had to finally stop taking this medication due to the side effects. I wonder if the medication caused her current problem with esophagitis?
Anyways, my question is about timing of when to take the strontium in the evening since she takes supplements throughout the day including at meal times. At bed time she also drinks her last cup of Flor Essence tea on an empty stomach.
Is there a certain amount of time that she needs to take the strontium that is spaced after dinner but before bed time when she takes her Flor Essence tea? Thanks for your help.
Warm regards,
Carolyn
Carolyn,
Ingestion of alendronate sodium (Fosamax) had been reported to sometimes cause erosive or ulcerative esophagitis.
Your mom needs to take her strontium at least two hours after eating or taking supplements (especially calcium and magnesium), and at least two hours before any food, supplements, or drink, other than water.
Good health to you both.
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