Strontium Folate for Bone Regeneration

Bone fractures and skeletal defects are rising worldwide and require new developments in bone regeneration. Strontium (Sr) is an element that has been investigated for its role in bone remodeling and bone formation. This study is a review of strontium folate (SrFO), a recently developed, non-protein based, bone-promoting agent that is of interest in medical and pharmaceutical fields due to its improved features compared to current therapies for bone diseases.

An aging population has led to a steady increase in the number of musculoskeletal conditions and, in particular, of cartilage and bone surgical procedures. Therefore, the development of alternative materials and strategies in bone replacement therapies is of interest. Above a critical size, bone defects are not repaired by the self-healing system of the tissue. Thus, an osteoconductive and osteoinductive device (or scaffold) is usually required in order to regenerate the lost tissue. The scaffold must be composed of materials that stimulate and favor the formation of new bone tissue and must be structurally stable during the process of cell growth and expansion. In this regard, autografts are still considered the “gold standard.” However, they have many drawbacks, such as limited availability and morbidity of the donor site. Alternatively, a proper scaffold made of a given biomaterial would be desirable both to fill the defect and to act as a reservoir for growth factors and/or cells.

SrFO-based scaffolds increase bone regeneration in vivo. The Sr-based-systems seem to be a useful alternative for the regeneration of bone tissue in complicated defects. 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6539601/

Strontium Citrate Protocols

If you decide to take strontium citrate, you need to ensure you are also getting adequate calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, other vitamins and minerals, and protein. You can get these nutrients from a combination of diet and supplements. Choosing a supplement plan, or protocol, that is right for you can be as simple as choosing one of the three protocols described in this post or by modifying one of them with your own choice of supplements. 

Protocols for Osteoporosis:

 COMB                                                                                 BoneLady 

Strontium citrate                   680 mg                                                  680 mg

Vitamin K2 (MK7)               100 mcg                                                none

Vitamin D3                         2000 IU                                                 1000 IU

Docosahexanoic acid (DHA)250 mg                                                 none

Magnesium                             25 mg                                                  250 mg*

Calcium                       Dietary sources                                    500 mg*  

*BoneLady takes a supplement tablet that contains 250 mg Mg and 500 mg Ca. In addition, she gets about 700 mg Ca from food for a total of about 1200 mg Ca per day.  

Protocol for Osteopenia:

MOTS 

Strontium citrate     450 mg

Vitamin K2 (MK7)     60 mcg

Vitamin D3            2000 IU*

Melatonin                    5 mg

DHA                             none

Magnesium                  none    

Calcium                          * 

*In addition to study medication, participants in the MOTS study were allowed to take less than 1000 IU of vitamin D3 and less than 1000 mg of calcium daily. 

http://strontiumforbones.blogspot.com/2017/02/mots-and-comb-study-comparison.html

http://strontiumforbones.blogspot.com/2012/02/combination-of-micronutrients-for-bone.html

https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/paperchase-aging/pdf/vmFJfarchkyMAtwWn.pdf

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5310667/

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01870115?term=strontium+citrate&rank=1

Axial DXA 8 January 2019

The report of my axial DXA scan taken on 8 January 2019 appears below. I have been on 2 grams strontium citrate/day for 11 years. I also take a calcium/magnesium tablet (500 mg Ca/250 mg Mg), a multivitamin with 1000 IU vitamin D3, and several other supplements. I get plenty of protein in my diet. I exercise daily.

As you can see, my DXA results were excellent, except for my left femoral neck, which showed no change from the previous scan.

I am happy with my results, although I know the comparison of this year's results to those of 2.5 years ago contains some built-in error because two different brands of DXA machines were used. My 2016 scan was on a Hologic and the 2019 scan was on a GE Lunar Prodigy.

Changing testing sites, and, therefore, machines, was not my choice. I had been getting my scans in the outpatient radiology department of a large hospital medical center, but the provider is now pushing patients into its freestanding imaging centers. I was told my insurance would not pay for a DXA unless it was done at a freestanding center, but my insurance denied that assertion.

The risk factor for secondary osteoporosis mentioned, but not specified, in the report is early menopause.

INDICATION: Postmenopausal. Follow-up of osteopenia on prior DXA.
Patient reports risk factors for secondary osteoporosis.

COMPARISON: 8/4/2016

FINDINGS:

Spine: Total BMD of the spine (L1-4) is 1.108 g/cm2, with a T-score of
-0.7 and a Z-score of 1.0.

Left Femoral Neck: BMD is 0.883 g/cm2, with a T-score of -1.1 and a
Z-score of 0.6.

Left Total Hip: BMD is 0.928 g/cm2, with a T-score of -0.6 and a Z-score
of 0.9.

Right Femoral Neck: BMD is 0.919 g/cm2, with a T-score of -0.9 and a
Z-score of 0.9.

Right Total Hip: BMD is 0.963 g/cm2, with a T-score of -0.4 and a Z-score
of 1.1.

Compared to the prior study, there has been 9% increase in spine density, 6% increase in left total hip density, but no change in left femoral neck density.

FRAX evaluation calculates 10-year probability of fracture:

Major Osteoporotic: 7.8%

Hip: 1.0%

IMPRESSION:

Based on BMD, diagnosis is consistent with osteopenia.

FOLLOWUP: In 2 years is recommended.