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

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Effects of Strontium Citrate on Osteoblasts

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of strontium citrate on the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblastic cells obtained from human alveolar bone. Primary osteoblasts, obtained from human alveolar bone residues at the time of third molar extractions and explanted in culture, were seeded in BGJb media containing 10% FCS. After the cells reached a semiconfluent stage, strontium citrate (bibasic anhydrous, pure grade from Jost Chemical) at various concentrations (0.05-1.0 mM) was added.

The MTT test showed the cells to be responsive to strontium citrate with significant increases in cellular activity/proliferation at 24 and 48 hrs. Alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly enhanced at 48 and 72 hrs with strontium citrate concentrations in the test range.
The data support the hypothesis that strontium citrate increases the proliferative/alkaline phosphatase activity of human osteoblastic cells from alveolar bone. The results validate previous research that has been done with other forms of strontium in clinical studies and rodent calvarial cells and indicates that strontium citrate could be a promising agent in treating oral as well as systemic bone disorders.


13 comments:

Kathy said...

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/09/new-cautions-about-long-term-use-of-bone-drugs/?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20120510

Have you seen this article in today's NY Times?

Do you know if there's an easy way to determine fracture risk? I've tried the 'calculator' link you gave in some posts a few years ago. The trouble is, I couldn't decipher what is meant by the number I came up with there and the FAQ don't address how to interpret it.

BoneLady said...

Kathy,

Yes, I saw the New York Times article. I'm not surprised the FDA is issuing new cautions about long-term use of bisphosphonates while still not giving adequate guidelines for their use.

As for fracture risk calculators, I have posted links to both the WHO FRAX tool and Garvan Institute tool. The FRAX is better known, but the Garvan is simpler to use because it asks fewer questions. Both employ BMD scores at the femoral neck, which may be shown on the scan report as left hip (neck). The numbers given by the calculator are your risk of future fractures. The Garvan tool gives 5 & 10 year fracture risk. I just reused it this morning. It takes about two minutes if you have your scan report in front of you. Here is the link, again, for the Garvan and FRAX calculators:

www.garvan.org.au/promotions/bone-fracture-risk/calculator

www.iofbonehealth.org/health-professionals/frax.html

Kathy said...

Thanks Bone Lady,

I did the Garvan, which was easy enough. I couldn't find the FRAX calculator at the 'bonehealth' site but used the one from the University of Sheffield. It came out with a 10 year major osteoporotic risk of 1.8 and hip fracture risk of 0.1. I haven't a clue what that means.

Actually, I'm doing this on behalf of my husband but his spine is way worse than his hip (and the calculator does not take this into account). I suspect his risk may, therefore, be higher than calculated. I'd be interested to know what you think.

By the way, I wrote to the managing director at Osteologix and asked when we might expect to see Strontium malonate approved for use in the US. He replied:
"At this time, we are not conducting clinical trials in the United States and I can give you no indication as to if or when NBS101 might be available there."

Of course he gave no reason but I wonder how difficult/expensive it is for foreign drug companies to get US approvals.

BoneLady said...

Kathy,

Your husband's 10-year probabilities of a major osteoporotic fracture (1.8%) and hip fracture (0.1%) are very low. That is good news for him. The scores are a tool to help physicians decide whether or not to treat a patient with drugs for osteoporosis. Below the FRAX tool, there was a section "For USA use only" that read "Consider FDA-approved medical therapies in postmenopausal women and men aged 50 years and older, based on the following:"

“A hip or vertebral (clinical or morphometric) fracture.

T-score < or = -2.5 at the femoral neck or spine after evaluation to exclude secondary causes.

Low bone mass (T-score between -1.0 and -2.5 at the femoral neck or spine) and a 10-year probability of a hip fracture > or = 3% or a 10-year probability of a major osteoporosis-related fracture > or = 20% based on the US-adapted WHO algorithm.

Clinicians’ judgment and/or patient preferences may indicate treatment for people with 10-year fracture probabilities above or below these levels.”

Both the FRAX and Garvan tools use the femoral neck BMD, and not the spine BMD, to calculate fracture risk. Many people have worse BMD at the spine than at the hip. As listed above, physicians are instructed to consider treatment for patients with T-scores of -2.5 or worse at the femoral neck or spine, and with T-scores of -1.0 to -2.5 AND 10-year fracture-risk probabilities deemed significantly high.

The IOF FRAX link I gave is indirect. From that page, you would have to click on FRAX at the bottom right of the page. Then, you would have to click again for the right country. This link is direct: www.shef.ac.uk/FRAX/tool.jsp?countr

It is very difficult/expensive for drug companies, both foreign and domestic, to bring a new drug to market in the U.S. I know strontium malonate will not be available here any time soon, if ever.

Chrisitine said...

I bought Doctor's best Strontium Bone Maker from Amazon.com, although they said it should be "Strontium (elemental)(from 2194mg Strontium citrate)" on their web site, but I received Strontium (elemental)(from 1944mg Strontium citrate)twice. I'm not sure if 1944mg is as good as 2194mg. Maybe I should not order from Amazon.com, maybe iherb.com is better. Any advice? Thanks.

BoneLady said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
BoneLady said...

Chrisitine,

Two capsules of Doctor's Best Strontium Bone Maker contain 680 mg elemental strontium from 1,944 mg strontium citrate. The amazon.com website erroneously listed the strontium citrate content of Bone Maker as 2,194 mg.

Whether you buy this product from amazon.com or from iherb.com, you will get the same product with the same amount of strontium citrate. When choosing a supplier, look at its shipping methods and reliability. I like that iherb.com ships by UPS on orders over $20, and has been shipping by UPS 3-day delivery on orders over $40. UPS orders can be tracked.

Christine said...

Thank you very much, BoneLady.

So, 680 mg elemental strontium from 1,944 mg strontium citrate should be OK to take, right? I remember you mentioned in our blog that it should be "680 mg elemental strontium from 2194 mg strontium citrate", I just want to make sure I'm taking the right one. I checked on iherb, for 60 Veggie Caps, it's "680mg Strontium (elemental)(from 1944 mg Strontium citrate)", but 120 Veggie Caps is "680mg Strontium (elemental)(from 2194 mg Strontium citrate)". I just ordered 120 Veggie Caps pack from Amazon twice, I'm confused about the amount of Strontium citrate. I guess if I order from iherb, I'll get "680mg Strontium (elemental)(from 2194 mg Strontium citrate)" for 120 Veggie Caps.
DO you know if they're the same product? Why the content of Strontium citrate are different for the same amount of elemental?

Thanks again for your reply.

BoneLady said...

Christine,

I am sorry for the confusion. I currently have three bottles at home of Doctor's Best Strontium Bone Maker, 120 veggie caps. Written on the bottles is "680 mg strontium (elemental) from 1944 mg strontium citrate." I checked the iherb site again, and, you are right. The 120 veggie caps are listed as containing 2194 mg strontium citrate, and the 60 veggie caps are listed at 1944 mg. The 2194 mg listing is an error. It is one product available in two sizes (120 or 60 veggie caps).

You are also correct in saying that I listed the amount as "680 mg elemental strontium from 2194 mg strontium citrate" on the blog. I will change that entry right now. I do not remember if I got that number from the iherb website or if my bottles listed 2194 mg strontium citrate at one time, and then the company changed the labels. It really does not matter that much, because both amounts of strontium salt are roughly 2 grams. What really matters is the 680 mg elemental strontium. That is the active ingredient.

Christine said...

BoneLady, thanks for your clarification. Now I'm sure I'm taking the right Strontium product.
I was inspired by your blog and started this new treatment after 9 month Actonel which almost killed me by the side effect. I'm glad I found this solution and hope I can have my bone density improved after 1 year.

Thanks again for your contribution.

- Christine

BoneLady said...

Kathy said...

Hi Bone Lady,

I couldn't find the 'For USA section' on the IOF site, but no matter, I'll take your word for it. Thanks for the reassurance. Dh's doctor doesn't want to prescribe meds yet anyway.

I want you to know how very much I appreciate all the time and the exceptional work you are putting into this. My mother died from the effects of op, which is horrible disease. I have suffered deep despair over the issue. Personally I have been trying to learn about the disease/treatments for years and I have encountered one brick wall after another.

I was watching a documentary recently about the bubonic plaque and I reflected on how many physicians tried to find a cure, how the village of Eam sacrificed itself to prevent spread and frankly I sat and wept. I think of all the people who tried to help and couldn't and contrasted it with my experience, with angry physicians who will not listen. Others who have lied to me just to get me off their back. Drug companies who are interested, it seems, only in economics....and then...there's you...trying to help people with no personal gain. You can have no idea how grateful I am for your outreach and your endurance. You have restored a little of my faith in the species.

Eat To Live said...

I have osteoperosis. Would love to try the Strontium.

I took Fosamax, so did my sister. I think it is one of the things that contributed to our getting candida

BoneLady said...

To: My Journey With Candida,

You are the first person I have heard from that believes she got a candida infection from Fosamax, but I believe it is entirely possible. I think Fosamax may weaken the immune system. When I was on it, I got a flu shot, which I'd been getting every year for some time without any problems. Four days after the shot, I had vertigo and dizziness. This was followed by night chills, malaise, and painful swelling of the sinuses. I had never before had sinus problems or vertigo. Flu shots can cause chills, malaise, and flu-like symptoms, but not vertigo or sinus pain. It had to have been due to Fosamax. The vertigo and dizziness continued until I stopped taking Fosamax.

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.