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 11, 2016

My DXA Scan on August 4, 2016

My scores improved, but I am still in the osteopenia range. Therefore, I will keep taking 680 mg strontium per day from strontium citrate, along with my other supplements. Here are my results:

Spine: Total BMD of the spine (L1-4) is 0.897 g/cm2, with a T-score of -1.4.

Left Femoral Neck: BMD is 0.729 g/cm2, with a T-score of -1.1.

Left Total Hip: BMD is 0.812 g/cm2, with a T-score of -1.1.

Compared to the prior study (August 21, 2013), there was a 3% increase in BMD of the lumbar spine and a 5% increase in BMD of the left total hip.

My lumbar spine T-scores have always been worse than my left total hip T-scores.
 
My lumbar spine T-scores went from -3.0 (osteoporosis) in May 2007 to -2.7 (still osteoporosis but better) in July 2009 to -1.6 (osteopenia) in August 2013 to -1.4 (osteopenia) in August 2016.





11 comments:

J.Hopkins said...

I have Osteoporosis and have had no luck with Fosamax. My next option is to have an infusion which I have opted put of. I follow some health sites and happened on to AlgaeCal at about the same time I was getting a new DXA. My numbers are close to yours with some possibly worse. The dosage of AlgaeCal is twice a day with food and Strontium suggested at night. I have a MS medication I take 3X a day and 5 hours apart. The AlgaeCal can't be taken with other medications so ... It has looked impossible until I saw your post. I am excited to see actual positive results. I want to make sure I am understanding your medications and dosage correctly: 1,200 mg Calcium Citrate; 1,000 IU D3; 500 mg Magnesium Citrate; Strontium 680 mg
( I currently take Calcium 1,200; 6,000 IU D3; 1,000 Magnesium Citrate; K2 1,200)
Do you split up your dosage. Do you take with meals? What has worked best for you?
I am seeing a Functional doctor on Wednesday. He has an office in Houston as well as Charlotte. I want to be armed with as much information as possible before seeing him.
I see that you live in Dallas. I am from Fort Worth but living in Charlotte where most of my children and grandchildren live.

Thank you for taking the time to share your information. I was feeling rather frustrated until your post appeared.

Again, thanks - Janice Hopkins

BoneLady said...

Dear Janice,

I take Country Life, Gluten Free, Calcium Magnesium Complex (500 mg Ca, 250 mg Mg per tablet). I only take one tablet per day. It contains Calcium (as calcium hydroxyapatite, citrate, aspartate, alpha-ketoglutarate, lysinate) and Magnesium (as magnesium oxide, citrate, aspartate, taurinate, alpha-ketoglutarate). I take this tablet at lunchtime. I get the rest of my calcium from food.
http://www.iherb.com/Country-Life-Calcium-Magnesium-Complex-360-Tablets/9688

I take 680 mg strontium as strontium citrate at night before bedtime. I take both capsules at night before bedtime on an empty stomach.

I get 1000 IU vitamin D3 from my multivitamin, which I take at dinner with most of my other supplements. Here are all my supplements: http://strontiumforbones.blogspot.com/2015/06/my-daily-supplements.html

Anonymous said...

The strontium supplement (Doctor's Best) I've been taking has been bought by a Chinese company. I'm no longer willing to buy it. Do you know which brands made in the U.S., Canada or Europe? Thank you.

BoneLady said...

To Anonymous:

I've also been taking Doctor's Best Strontium Bone Maker. Two brands I know are good are Advanced Ortho Molecular Research, AOR, Advanced Series, Strontium Support II and Pure Encapsulations Strontium (citrate). LifeExtension,Strontium Caps,750 mg, Swanson Stontium Citrate, and Vitacost Strontium may also be worth checking out.

Eleanor said...

Thank you bone lady for you information and well done on you success .

‪I have been receiving your emails and very grateful for your valuable information ,, we are similar as I am 60 yrs old and have been taking strontium for 8 years ‬
‪I have had a good result showing on dexa scan‬
‪My problem now is however I have high blood pressure for no know reason‬
‪I eat very healthy and excercise regular ‬
‪I know strontium renalate was discontinued ‬. Is the strontium citrate different
‪I am worried now and wondered if you had any information that might help me. I would be very grateful kind regards Eleanor ,,,eleanorfloyd21@hotmail.com‬

BoneLady said...

Dear Eleanor,

I understand your concern, but let me clarify a few things. First of all, strontium ranelate (SR) has NOT been discontinued in the United Kingdom or the European Union, and has never been used in the USA or Canada. Some restrictions have been placed on its use. One restriction is that it is not to be used in people with UNCONTROLLED high blood pressure. It should be used with caution in people with risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, and diabetes.

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/aches-and-pains/a6563/protelos-strontium-ranelate/

Secondly, we don't know if strontium citrate (SC) has any increased cardiovascular risks because it has not been subjected to the clinical tests that SR, a prescription drug, had to go through.

Here is my opinion. If you are under the care of a medical doctor for your hypertension, and it is under control; then, I wouldn't worry about taking SC. I have high cholesterol and high triglycerides, both risk factors for cardiovascular disease, but I take a statin drug and my lipids are under control. I continue to take strontium and it will be nine years in January, 2017.

I'm sorry I didn't see your question earlier. Blogger used to email me each time I had a new comment. Now, I have to go to Blogger and see if there is a comment.

So, good luck and don't worry. Remember that old Doris Day song? Que será, será / Whatever will be, will be / The future's not ours to see / Que será, será. I've always loved the song and the lyrics because they ring true.

Have a blessed Christmas and healthy New Year.

Lynne said...

Are you able to get your dxa scan results adjusted for the use of strontium citrate, so that you get a truer picture?

BoneLady said...

Dear Lynne,

No, I have never had my DXA scan results adjusted for the use of strontium citrate (SC), although, before each scan, I have always included my exact dosage of SC and the length of time I have been taking it. I want that information in my medical record. What the radiologist does with the information is up to him.

Ten years ago, I thought adjusted results would give me a "truer" picture. Now, I know that the best adjustment is only a rough estimate because different people absorb strontium at different rates, and different bones within the same person absorb strontium at different rates. Plus, algorithms used to make the adjustment vary from 10% to 75%. Servier, the maker of strontium ranelate (SR), said the adjustment could be 50% after three years of using SR. Again, all the adjustments are rough mathematical estimates. You can pick your own adjustment, say 50%, and do the math yourself. Just use your results in g/cm2 and do the multiplication. Or, better yet, do what I do, i.e., look at your unadjusted scores from one scan to the next, looking for any changes. If the scores keep going up, or even staying steady (no loss), you know the SC is being absorbed by your bones. My scores have gone up with each DXA scan.

Anonymous said...

Thank you. I also wonder whether you have had a serum ctx test to monitor bone turnover? This is why my consultant wants to medicate as this year there has been a dramatic change. I am hoping that if I use SC my ctx score will improve. Lynne

BoneLady said...

Lynne,

No, I have never had a s-CTX test to monitor bone turnover. One reason is that I am, basically, self-medicating with the supplement, SC. I say "basically" because, my doctor, who is aware I'm taking SC, is ordering my DXA scans and laboratory tests and keeping a record of my progress. However, the laboratory tests have been basic panels--comprehensive metabolic panel, lipid panel, and thyroid panel. Another reason I have not had a bone turnover test is that I have never seen an osteoporosis specialist. I have always been treated by a family doctor. Some family doctors may be willing to order a s-CTX, but, usually, bone turnover tests are ordered by endocrinologists and other specialists who have experience interpreting these tests. Since I didn't have a baseline s-CTX before starting SC, a s-CTX would be of limited usefulness now.

I hope your s-CTX score improves with SC.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for taking the time to reply. Good wishes. Lynne

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.