Supplement advice anyone?: Hi Everyone... - Bone Health and O...

Bone Health and Osteoporosis UK

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Supplement advice anyone?

6 years ago•5 Replies

Hi Everyone

Just want to say how helpful and reassuring I find this website. So many are willing to share personal stories and go to a lot of effort to help and give advice. Thank you.

I’m beginning to feel that I’m getting addicted and even slightly obsessive and realise that I need to stop focusing on OP, but I am in recovery from a fracture followed by a nasty chest infection which combined, has wiped me out. Whilst recovering I’ve found it so helpful to research and ask questions etc., and learn from others generously sharing of their experiences. I think I am beginning to feel more ‘normal,’ so before too long will reduce my time spent on here. In the meantime, I still have a question concerning supplements I would like to ask anyone who has the time and inclination to help me with.

I’m currently only using up my Solgar supplies because I’ve realised the bulking agents they use aren’t ideal, however, I know they are a fairly trusted company so am finding it hard to find alternatives. I know it’s all trial and error and will differ for each individual but if anyone who has done more extensive research than myself, and is more confident and knowledgable then please let me know if I’m going along the right lines or not!

Here is my current list ...

Solgar Vit C 1000c mg - one a day

Solgar vegetal Silica - one a day

Solgar Boron 3mg - one a day

Health Aid Magnesium Orotate 500mg - one a day

Urticalcin - three tablets twice daily

Nutrition advanced Vit D3 with K2

I’m not taking calcium currently but wonder if I should start again. The Ulticalcin has calcium but not sure how much and think it’s more about directing calcium into the bones? Won’t take the Adcal prescribed as I believe it’s not a good quality of calcium? I was taking Jarrow Bone Up which included quite a lot of calcium for a couple of years but my density worsened in that time in spite of long walks and lots of stair climbing (house on 3 floors) so back to the drawing board 🙄. Diets not really changed, though we’ve been refurbishing a house for the last year so not easy to regularly make green smoothies etc. Also, quite a lot of comfort food going on! Don’t eat lots of meat or cakes etc and love fruit and veg. so happy with largely plant based diet. I know many struggle with the supplement dilemma but any feedback gratefully received!

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Debs4

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LynneH-196 years ago

Hi Deb. I’m always wary of recommending brands of supplements, because there’s never proof that they contain what the label states, or whether they will agree with someone else.

May I suggest you look critically at your present diet and try to estimate your Ca and protein intake. We only need around 1000 to 1200 mg of Ca a day maximum. In fact the NOS stated that 700 mg is sufficient for most folk, unless they have absorption problems. If you are eating a balanced diet including dairy, especially yogurt, you may already be getting sufficient, therefore not needing a Ca supplement.

I note that Urticalin doesn’t appear to state assay values, unless I’m mistaken. This tends to worry me, when they cannot be bothered to get it tested. You therefore have no idea how much Ca or other ingredients it actually contains.

It’s important to know your vit D blood level. Have you had it tested?

If it’s low, the 1000 IU of D3 you appear to be taking, may be insufficient.

D3 and K2 are best taken with separate fat food. I personally prefer a separate D3 and K2, as they may be competing for absorption against each other, if there’s limited fat present.

I haven’t heard of Health Aid Magnesium Orotate 500mg, but assuming it agrees with you, so it’s probably not worth changing to another brand.

Adequate protein is essential for the health of the bone matrix, which is composed of the protein collagen.

See the following paper about protein.

blogs.creighton.edu/heaney/...

Best wishes

Debs4• in reply toLynneH-196 years ago

Thanks for that extensive reply Lynne, I really appreciate that you’ve taken the trouble. Some very good ideas and advice. I had thought that about the Urticalcin but was given it by a herbalist who says stinging nettle is excellent for bone repair 🤷‍♀️ Quite confused about the not taking D & K at the same time though as I’ve read the exact opposite. Like most things, there are always conflicting views. For instance have you read dairy is supposed to leach calcium from the bones? And the amount of protein needed. Huge differences in opinion on that, but the link you kindly provided is very interesting stuff! Whilst working in a stressful and demanding job for over 10 years I think I totally neglected myself and my diet and just grabbed some fruit or something for lunch. Also I’ve also always automatically dished out the bigger portions of protein to the family. I hate to think what my protein intake has been over the years. I know my OP is due to lack of oestrogen but guess there are lots of factors contributing. What a nightmare this all is 😱 mainly because who knows if what we are taking is working. Sorry to sound so negative!

I had my bloods done during my recent hospital stay and was told that my calcium and D levels were good. Yet so see the report though. Think they will be done again when I have my dreaded Rheumatology appointment in June.

Thank you again and hope you are relatively well.

LynneH-19• in reply toDebs46 years ago

Hi Debs

Comments we read about needing both D3 and K2 are correct, but potentially confusion. We do benefit from having both (and Mg) but this doesn’t mean that they should be swallowed at the same time.

The following statement was written by Dxagura, one of the expert moderators on the NOF forum.

Quote copied and pasted;

“One misunderstood point on vitamin D.

You shouldn't take calcium without the D3 as it helps absorb it in the body. ” This statement is misleading.

Vitamin D2 and D3, that you swallow are inactive forms of the vitamin and have zero effect on the absorption of calcium in the same pill. It isn’t even the same form of vitamin D that's measured in blood tests.

Active vitamin D is created in the kidney, from a second form that was made in your liver, from the form you swallowed in a pill it can take up to six weeks before the vitamin D in the calcium supplement has gone through the liver and kidneys and becomes active. You need vitamin D, but it can be taken anytime of day. It’s best absorbed however, with the largest meal of the day”. End of quote.

The comments we read about all dairy leaching Ca from the bones is also misleading. When I was first diagnosed with OP after breaking bones, I started reading about the alkaline diet and had a real hang up over this. As a result I started testing my urine pH several times a day.

I found that milk and yogurt never made my urine pH acidic, whereas too much cheddar cheese did.

I later read that provided you have a steady intake of Ca from diet, there will always be sufficient Ca in circulation to act as a pH buffer, to neutralise these acidic ‘peaks’.

It’s only when the body is seriously depleted of Ca, that Ca would need to be leached from the bones, as a last resort. This could occur in severe cases of anorexia, when Ca isn’t been ingested, or when some other disease is affecting Ca metabolism. Parathyroid disease is another example.

One reason why Ca supplements are inferior to Ca from food, is that when you swallow a supplement, you suddenly get a high peak of Ca appearing, but because the Ca level in circulation is strictly controlled, some of this Ca will be hurriedly excreted, assuming the kidneys are working correctly. If this excretion doesn’t happen for some other medical reason, the danger of Ca been deposed in arteries and kidney stones becomes a potential issue.

Needless to say I don’t bother to check my urine pH now, but I ensure that each meal / snack I have, contains some Ca, even if it’s just a mid morning drink containing milk.

Good luck for your appointment in May. Take someone with you for moral support!

Best wishes

Sent from my iPad

Walkingdogs6 years ago

Hi debs, If you can’t get enough green veg, you could try barleygrass. It has loads of vitamins and minerals that you need for bones. It’s a perfectly natural product and is alkalising as well. I’ve started taking collagen as well as I’m told it’s good for bones and muscle. I don’t eat meat or chicken only fish and the collagen I get is marine. You probably wouldn’t need magnesium if you were taking the barleygrass. I’ve been getting acupuncture and the therapist said I should up my protein as well, and cut down sugar and alcohol, although I only have a few small glasses of wine a week. Don’t want to cut out everything. I think you need to enjoy some treats😄

MiaLee6 years ago

Stinging nettle infusion; stinginging nettle infusion; stinging nettle infusion. Google it. Really. You can buy it non GMO, from Botanic Universe. The key. Look it up.

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