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

Monday, August 5, 2013

Healing Fractures with Strontium Ranelate

Age and bone quality are the two most important factors influencing the fracture healing process. Cellular and molecular alterations in elderly patients may lead to pseudarthrosis (nonunion), i.e., a fracture that has not united in the stipulated time in which such fractures usually unite and has no chance of union without intervention. In the same way, in altered bone metabolism conditions, such as osteoporosis, physiological phases of fracture healing are impaired.

Two women with fractures that would not heal were started on strontium ranelate (2g/day), calcium (1200 mg/day), and vitamin D (800 IU/day). Patient B.G. was a 57-year-old Caucasian woman with osteopenia and a fracture of the right distal radius and ulna. Patient S.L. was a 59-year-old Caucasian woman with osteoporosis and a fracture of the base of the fifth metatarsal in the left foot. Their case studies showed healing of fractures in a short period of time after drug and supplement intervention.

Read more about these fascinating studies, which contain figures of several radiographs and a CT scan, at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2898010/

5 comments:

Kathy said...

http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2013/aug2013_The-Overlooked-Importance-of-Vitamin-D-Receptors_01.htm

Hi Bone Lady, Thanks for that latest info!

I've only lost 3 pounds since I Stopped taking the Strontium citrate...sigh!

I've linked an interesting article talking about Vit D and its effect on Alzheimer's. Wow! I'm thinking of upping my dose (currently at 2000 IUs daily). Do you know how long it takes to reflect a change in blood levels of Vit D (I'm thinking of getting a blood test. Dunno whether to do it before or after upping my dose)?

Thanks for all you do

Kath

BoneLady said...

Hi! Kathy,

You should have your vitamin D, specifically your 25(OH)D, blood level AND your serum calcium tested BEFORE you increase your vitamin D supplementation. If your SERUM CALCIUM is HIGH, you should NOT take vitamin D supplements except under the care of a physician. If your VITAMIN D level is LOW, you should increase your vitamin D supplementation. Then, about three months later, you can have your 25-hydroxy vitamin D level retested. I would also suggest getting more sun, but your profile says you live in Oregon.

In general, for every 100 IU of vitamin D ingested, the blood level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D is increased by 1 ng/ml after 2 to 3 months. This increase is an average; some people do not absorb vitamin D supplements as well as others. For example, if your vitamin D blood test was 30 ng/ml and a 40 ng/ml level was desired, 1000 IU of vitamin D per day over several months should be taken to achieve a normal blood level of 40 ng/ml. In your case, since you are currently taking 2000 IU/day, if your current blood level is 30 ng/ml and you want to get to 40 ng/ml, you would take 3000 IU/day until you reach your goal.

According to Medscape, most clinical studies suggest a blood level of vitamin D from 35 to 40 ng/ml is optimal for preventive health. The Endocrine Society recommends taking a vitamin D supplement of around 2,000 IU/day to reach and stay above a level of 30 ng/ml. The Vitamin D Council suggests that a level of 50 ng/ml is the ideal level to aim for. This is why the Council recommends that adults take 5,000 IU/day of vitamin D supplement in order to reach and stay at this level.

It's always good to hear from you.

Kathy said...

thank you Bone Lady. That's great information

Kathy

Unknown said...

I have fracture in femure since two years i have grafted also now i m using strontium renalate calcium and vitamin d since one week do you sugest any beter option

BoneLady said...

To: Areeb Zaidi,

The two women in the case studies mentioned in the post used strontium ranelate (2g/day), calcium (1200 mg/day), and vitamin D (800 IU/day) and showed healing of fractures in a short period of time. You said you have been using strontium ranelate, calcium and vitamin D for one week. That seems to be a good protocol. You might want to add a magnesium supplement, but don’t take more than 350 mg/day of supplemental magnesium, as that is the tolerable upper intake level for supplemental magnesium.

Another option would be to take teriparatide (Forteo) instead of strontium ranelate. Teriparatide is an anabolic (i.e, bone-building) prescription drug. This is not necessarily a better option, just another option.

Yet another option would be sequential therapy with teriparatide followed by strontium ranelate. This treatment was used successfully in a postmenopausal woman with atypical femur fractures after long-term bisphosphonate administration.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24457408

You and your doctor need to find out what caused your femur fracture. You may know, but you didn’t mention the reason.

If you don’t want to take prescription drugs, strontium citrate is sold without a prescription at health food stores and online supplement companies.

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.