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.

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.






Blog Archive

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Fracture Risk



“Osteoporosis and resultant fractures of the spine, hip and other sites are important public health problems with significant individual and societal costs. The risk for osteoporotic fracture is based upon low bone density and the presence of one or more clinical risk factors (see Table 1). A history of fracture during adulthood or falls are important clinical factors in determining the risk of future fracture; however, age is the most influential risk factor, such that middle-aged adults with other risk factors are likely to be at low absolute fracture risk in the medium term. Using these clinical risk factors and BMD when available, fracture risk assessment tools (based upon data collected from large prospective observational studies) have been developed to estimate the 5–10 year probability of hip fracture and other fractures in untreated patients. Clinicians should be aware that fracture risk can also be estimated using the FRAX or Garvan tools without BMD data. Chronic glucocorticoid use is an established risk factor for osteoporosis, with studies showing that use of glucocorticoids leads to accelerated bone loss and an increased risk of fracture. Other drugs are increasingly recognized as potential causes of bone loss and fracture, particularly amongst predisposed individuals….”

See the following link for more on other drugs that can cause bone loss and fractures:

Table 1.  Clinical risk factors for fracture
Advancing age
Previous fracture during adulthood
History of a fall or falls in the past 12 months
Glucocorticoid therapy
Parental history of hip fracture
Low body weight
Current cigarette smoking
Excessive alcohol consumption
Medical diseases (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, hyperparathyroidism, coeliac disease, hypogonadism)

This introduction and table appeared in “Adverse Skeletal Effects of Drugs – Beyond Glucocorticoids,” Susannah O'Sullivan, Andrew Grey, Clin Endocrinol. 2015; 82(1):12-22. 
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/837369?src=wnl_edit_tpal&uac=127701PY

2 comments:

Derek said...

Have you seen this link? This Dr. is saying that strontium could actually increase risk of fracture. But that's the first time I have read that.

A lot of combat athletes are using it now as a preventative measure, and also I see most people who have done density scans always score much higher after supplementing with it.

http://saveourbones.com/strontium-demistyfied/

On the other hand that site seems to be selling a product so I'm not sure how much weight I am putting into its analysis, just wanted to see if you had an opinion on it as it focuses on "tensile strength" of the bone.

BoneLady said...

Derek,

I am well aware of Vivian Goldschmidt and her Save Our Bones program. She is NOT a doctor. She has a Masters of Arts degree in nutritional sciences and biochemistry. She sells supplements, books & videos.

My bone density while on strontium citrate went from osteoporosis to osteopenia as of my last scan almost two years ago. I may be in the normal range by now. Everyone I know who has taken strontium correctly & has no secondary cause of OP, such as hyperparathyroidism or malabsorption problems,has had increased BMD.

There are many scholarly articles showing that strontium decreases fracture risk:

Strontium ranelate reduces the risk of vertebral fractures in patients with osteopenia.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17997711

Vertebral fracture risk reduction with strontium ranelate in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis is independent of baseline risk factors.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16598373

Strontium ranelate: a new paradigm in the treatment of osteoporosis.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12698204

Effects of long-term strontium ranelate treatment on the risk of nonvertebral and vertebral fractures in postmenopausal osteoporosis: Results of a five-year, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18512789

Strontium ranelate: vertebral and non-vertebral fracture risk reduction.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16735841

Strontium ranelate: an increased bone quality leading to vertebral antifracture efficacy at all stages.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16455319

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.