After I couldn’t tolerate AA and Forteo landed me in hospital for shortness of breath I researched a study protocol used in Canada which had good results. This was the COMB protocol using micronutrients: It used: fish oil, K2, D3 and strontium Citrate. I followed this for only a year and half because I heard mumbling about strontium. In the US we have strontium citrate from Amazon. Interesting I only used half the strontium dose and still got good results. My doctor was happy.
In the meantime I found another very successful study from Duquesne University School of Pharmacy: The MOTS Treatment study: melatonin, strontium citrate, D3 and K2 (MK 7). I’m using this now but can only tolerate 1mgm melatonin rather than the 5mgm suggested. There results were excellent and they studied bone marker turnover and other things. Seems like a natural approach to me.
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Karenjaninaz
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I used strontium citrate, vitamin K2 and boron (I don't need D3 as I live in sunny Perth, Australia) for just over 3 years after being diagnosed with osteoporosis in 2012 and reading Lara Pizzorno's book: Your Bones and then the COMB study. One year later, my DEXA showed that the bone density in my spine had increased by 3.9% (hip still negative). My GP was jumping for joy!
Here are my DEXA results:
9/07/2012 - prior to using SC
AP spine (L1-4): T-score -2.2; Femoral neck (left): T-score -3.1; Total hip (left): T-score -3.1
11/07/2013 - first year on SC
AP spine (L1-4): T-score -1.9; Femoral neck (left): T-score -3.3; Total hip (left): T-score -3.3
27/11/2014 - second year on SC
AP spine (L1-4): T-score -1.9; Femoral neck (left): T-score -3.2; Total hip (left): T-score -3.2
9/12/2015 - third year on SC
AP spine (L1-4): T-score -1.9; Femoral neck (left): T-score -3.1; Total hip (left): T-score -2.8
31/01/2017 - no SC
AP spine (L1-4): T-score -2.3; Femoral neck (left): T-score -3.1; Total hip (left): T-score -2.8
1/02/2018 - no SC
AP spine (L1-4): T-score -2.3; Femoral neck (left): T-score -3.4; Total hip (left): T-score -3.1
For various reasons, I stopped using strontium citrate in 2016 and you can see the deterioration in my bone density. My spine appears to have benefitted the most from using it and declined immediately I stopped using it. My hip seems to have been slower to respond.
So, like you, I'm a great fan of strontium citrate, the natural approach, etc. Unfortunately I was scared into taking Prolia in 2018 and am currently using a relay bisphosphonate to get off it safely. As soon as this little journey has ended, I will be back on the strontium citrate! No more osteoporosis drugs for me.
I wish that the COMB study was more widely publicised and promoted by the medical profession, but there's no money in it as strontium citrate is a naturally-occurring mineral and can't be patented, unlike strontium ranelate. I have to order it online from the US.
Thanks - will investigate. I haven’t bought it for some years now due to being on Prolia followed by Actonel.
Hello is the melatonin an extra thing for sleep or is that part of helping bones build? Thanks I should look the full study you mention up which I will do later ...thanks.
The melatonin 5mgm is part of the protocol; it seems to help bone density. I started with 1 mgm but I think it aggravated my IBS. So I stopped it. I do the rest of the protocol. I add that when I took the COMB protocol I was taking prednisone and I still gained bone density.
Thanks so much for your reply I am trying to help my aunt who is 80 and in agonwith broken spine and zero help from doctors she took their potions on an off but I don't know how consistent and some she really could handle the side effects. She's only now starting to take my advice on going off sugar and eating healthy foods she's afraid to take more than RDA of any supplements even magnesium when she has cramos she also has bowel issues but not much info from doctors they just give laxative and pakn killers for her back which probably cause the bowl issues and etc. The cascade of medications. So I'm trying to find things I can at least try to help even though its very late I hope it can help a little. But whether I will have to experiment by sneaking things into her food or will she try these protocols don't know. But at least if I know I cab explain them to her and try to help. Good to know about the reaction too I wouldn't want to make her other issues worse. Maybe not a good choice for her. I will hopefully get to look at the full protocol soon. Thanks again.
There was a lady on the bone forum, I think, who had crushed vertebrae with pain which subsided with strontium; she tried many bone prescriptions.
I know an RN, personally, who had spontaneous vertebral fractures as a young woman. Her husband gave a gift of a sunlamp parlor. Her pain and fractures healed. This was the Vit D from the lamps. Sunbeds are not recommended because of skin cancer concerns but the Vit D3 is helpful in the deficient.
Is there any additional research on melatonin or the MOTS protocol? The one study I saw from 2018 was among only 10-11 women on the protocol. Here it is: dsc.duq.edu/etd/1440/
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