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

Tuesday, August 23, 2022

Trabecular Bone Score (TBS)

I will be asking that a Trabecular Bone Score (TBS) be included with my next DXA scan. The doctor who read my latest scan wrote, "Follow up with DEXA and TBS: As needed." 

I found a review of TBS. The review includes a section on "Changes in TBS with Treatment of Osteoporosis." Below is the paragraph comparing the effects of strontium ranelate and alendronate (Fosamax) on TBS. 

"The effects of strontium ranelate (SrRan) and alendronate on TBS were evaluated in a post hoc analysis performed in 79 women with postmenopausal osteoporosis of 189 included in a double‐blind, double‐dummy, randomized study. Women were randomized to either SrRan 2 g/day or alendronate 70 mg/week for 2 years. TBS and BMD parameters were assessed in the LS after 12 and 24 months of treatment. Over 1 and 2 years, LS BMD increased significantly by 5.6% and 9.0% in the SrRan group and by 5.2% and 7.6%, respectively, in the alendronate group. LS TBS increased by 2.3% (p < 0.001) and 3.1% (p < 0.001) in the SrRan group, but the change in the alendronate group was not significant (0.5% and 1.0%, respectively). There was a significant between‐group difference with SrRan showing larger TBS increases than alendronate."

Let me reiterate: Over one and two years, Lumbar Spine (LS) BMD increased in both the SrRan (5.6%, 9.0%) and alendronate groups (5.2%, 7.6%). You will note that the SrRan BMD numbers are higher, especially after the second year, than the alendronate numbers. The results are as expected because strontium results in an overestimation of BMD.  

HERE IS THE KICKER: LS TBS increased by 2.3% and 3.1% in the SrRan group, but the change in the alendronate group was not significant (0.5% and 1.0%, respectively). There was a significant between‐group difference with SrRan showing larger TBS increases than alendronate.

Keep in mind that TBS is related to bone microarchitecture and provides skeletal information that is not captured from the standard BMD measurement. TBS may be a better predictor of fracture risk than BMD alone. 
https://www.panoramaortho.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/TBS-Rev...

 

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

If DXA is inflated by strontium and dxa readings are used for the TBS. Is the TBS affected falsely by strontium. What I am reading implies no, but I can find no definite NO in the research.

BoneLady said...

To: Anonymous of January 17, 2023

I recently had the opportunity to ask Prof. Didier Hans, the co-inventer of TBS software, a question by email:

Will a TBS score be affected by the bone strontium effect, as the BMD by DXA scan is?

Below is his answer:

In our study of TBS and strontium ranelate, TBS was less affected by the larger atomic number of strontium than the BMD was affected. So, the study showed that strontium improved bone microarchitecture.

https://strontiumforbones.blogspot.com/2022/09/tbs-strontium-and-prof-didier-hans.html

https://strontiumforbones.blogspot.com/2022/09/beneficial-effects-of-strontium.html

The trabecular bone score (TBS) does not use DXA scan readings of BMD. TBS uses standard DXA spine images to measure texture inhomogeneity — that is, how well-structured or poorly structured the trabecular bone appears when assessed as individual voxels. To do so, TBS utilizes a software program installed on a standard DXA computer to provide an index of bone microarchitecture based upon the assessed trabecular texture.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-professionals/endocrinology/news/new-tools-to-predict-fracture-risk/mac-20430573

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.