Anyone in the U.K. tried AlgaeCal Plus?

[Fruitandnutcase]

I’ve seen it mentioned in the book Your Bones by Lara Pizzorno and it looks to be very good. It’s pretty expensive and it comes from USA which could make it even more expensive if they tax it when it arrives in the U.K.

I’m just wondering if anyone has used it and how easy it was to buy / import etc.

Also has anyone tried the (also very expensive) Marodyne LIV vibration gadget?

[Hidden]

Please feel free to ring one of the ROS nurses on the helpline 0808 800 0035. They are up to date with both of these issues.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, I’ll do that at some point.

[Met00]

It is very expensive and is unlikely to give you the balance of vitamins and minerals that you personally need. It's the strontium citrate (separate tablet to take at bedtime) that guarantees the improvement in bone density, but it skews DEXA results so these have to be adjusted to take this into account (I think you have to reduce any improvement by 50%). You can buy strontium citrate much more cheaply in the UK than from Algaecal. The calcium in algaecal is sourced from algae (hence the name), but it's recommended to get calcium from diet if at all possible and only supplement to make up any shortfall. You can buy algae based calcium in the UK if you do need to top up.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Met00]

Thank you for that Met00. It is very expensive and I’m sure there would be tax to make it even more so. Think I just need to test for my present vitamin / mineral levels and get what I need here.

So far I haven’t had anyone interpret the blood test results I’ve had so far to know what is going to be ruled out as possible causes other than bad genes and bad luck. Once I know that I’ll have more of an idea as to what to do.

Thanks for your input.

[Met00 in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Just be aware that if your calcium levels are normal, that doesn't mean you're getting enough calcium in your diet. If everything's working as it should, our bodies maintain blood calcium levels within quite a narrow range, meaning that if our calcium intake is insufficient, calcium will be leached from our bones. The best way to ensure adequate calcium intake is to use a calcium calculator. I find this one easy to use and quite accurate: cgem.ed.ac.uk/research/rheu...

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Met00]

Thank you for that, it’s very interesting,I’ve just discovered I’m definitely not getting enough calcium in my diet.

I bought some calcium, magnesium and something else then after I took the first dose I looked at my test results and saw that my calcium level is almost at the top of the range - my adjusted calcium ( whatever that is) is only 0.03 from the top of the range so I didn’t take any more.

I’m not sure about taking calcium it’s something I wouldn’t want to take too much of so I’ll wait until someone explains what’s going on before I do that.

I was surprised it was that high though, I would have thought with osteoporosis my calcium level would have been really low - it’s all new to me.

[Met00 in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Have you had a parathyroid blood test done? It's something they should check, at the same time as calcium, as hyperparathyroidism can be a cause of osteoporosis. Having high levels of calcium in your blood doesn't mean it's going to your bones, in fact the reverse can be true. However, if you're within the normal range, if your parathyroid levels are normal too, then that could just be normal for you.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Met00]

I’m also wondering if the calcium isn’t going to my bones.They were testing for myeloma, hyperparathyroidism (primary and secondary), hypovitaminosis D, chronic kidney disease stage 3.5-5, chronic liver disease and coeliac disease and hyperthyroidism.

I’m not sure which tests show up hyperparathyroidism though my GP ordered TSH, bone profile, creatinine and electrolytes, liver profile, coeliac serology (TTg, igA serology, ESR and full blood count.

Hopefully everything they wanted to check are covered by all of those blood tests. I’ve got at the hospital next week to see the bone people so hopefully all will be revealed.if not I definitely need get an appointment to see my GP.

I’ve in remission from Graves’ disease for seven years and I’ve got inflammatory arthritis, I had three months tapering could steroids for that and an aunt who had osteoporosis - I should have taken more care of myself. I knew about my aunt but I didn’t know the rest were all factors for osteoporosis ☹️

[Met00 in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

It sounds like they're being really thorough with all those tests - good to hear, as often GPs don't think to test for anything - that was certainly my experience! I do wish they'd tell us the risks for osteoporosis when we're young enough to do something about it, rather than leaving us to discover for ourselves once it's too late!

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Met00]

Met00, I really appreciate your help so thank you again.

You’re right, they do seem to be being very thorough, I’m not sure my GP would have tested for all that if the hospital hadn’t said what they wanted checked.

It’s sad that so many opportunities to point out the risks I had for osteoporosis were missed when there was time to act.

I’ve got two boys in their forties and I’m sure they must be fed up with me telling them that at their ages they still have time to do something about their bones whereas at 71 it’s definitely not going to be easy for me.