Is stontium citrate safe to take and does it improve bone strength?
Stontium: Is stontium citrate safe to... - Osteoporosis Support
Stontium
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Opera7
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As you're posting on an American bone site, you're likely to be told that Strontium Citrate isn't safe. However, the view in the UK is somewhat different. Research to date suggests that strontium citrate works in a very similar way to strontium ranelate, which is a prescription medication in the UK. For that reason, it's possible that any risks associated with strontium ranelate may also be relevant to strontium citrate. In the US it's considered that there's a high risk of heart attack, so strontium ranelate is banned, but in the UK the research evidence is understood to show that this risk only applies to those with existing heart disease. Strontium ranelate can also raise blood pressure, so isn't suitable for anyone with existing hypertension. Assuming that the risks are the same with strontium citrate, then it should be avoided if you have heart disease or raised blood pressure. These risks haven't, however, been in evidence with strontium citrate to date, although research has inevitably been much more limited than for the prescription version. It's possible that it's the ranelate form of the strontium that may cause health issues, rather than the strontium itself, but I haven't seen anything conclusive about this. I take strontium citrate, but less than the recommended dose. I'd had a full health check before I started it (heart was fine) and my blood pressure was on the low side of normal and has stayed that way.
Thanks for the info. I trust the UK more than the United States. I don't think Strontium Citrate and Strontium ranelate are equivalent. Strontium ranelate has been known to cause hair loss and I think bleeding. I was told to use Strontium Citrate at 680MG a day on an empty stomach and it would increase my bone mass. I have just started taking it and was told by American Bone Health that they don't recommend it but think they were thinking of Strontium ranelate. It is the case that not much research has been done with Citrate. I just know I'm -3.5 and need to do something about my bone loss. I also take K2, Vit D and Magnesium. My vit D levels are 35 and am told they should be at least 50. So I need a better source of Vit D. CA I get in my foods, I like to blend Kale and an apple but lately the Kale has all be wilted and doesn't look good. Thanks again for responding to me.
Is your Vit D level 35ng/ml (US measurement) or 35nmol/litre (UK)? I've been advised my level should be at least 75nmol/litre (30ng/ml) preferably 100nmol/litre (40ng/ml). The normal UK range is 50-150 nmol/litre (20-60ng/ml). How much supplement are you taking?
I take Vit D3 at 2000 IU and my level is 35 the last time I checked a year ago. I understand it should at least be 50. I did NOT know that strontium will replace CA in your bones.
The evidence I've read suggests that, although strontium may replace some of the calcium in your bones, it also attracts more calcium. The important thing is to make sure that strontium is taking at least 2 hours away from food and any calcium containing drinks. There's plenty of evidence that it reduces fracture risk, which should be more important to us than bone density alone.
Were you taking 2000iu D3 when you had your level checked last year? On average, you need (additional to any D3 supplement you're already taking) 1000iu to raise your blood level by 25nmol/litre, so if your blood level is only 35nmol/litre on 2000iu, you should get it up to about 60 if you take another 1000iu supplement. You do need to check blood level regularly, as my experience has shown. I was taking 4000iu to keep my level over 100nmol/litre, but suddenly my blood D level shot up, so I reduced to 3000 but it was still a little too high. I now take 2500 and will be interested to see what it's like at my next blood test. I think the change happened because I managed to get my IBS under better control, which presumably means I'm now absorbing better.
Hi Opera7, here is American Bone Health's article on strontium: americanbonehealth.org/medi...
The top reason why our medical advisory board doesn't recommend strontium is because when you take it, the strontium will replace calcium in your bones. "Because strontium atoms are heavier than calcium atoms, swapping some of the calcium atoms with strontium atoms will make the bone mineral density appear to increase. This is not the same as making new bone."
Strontium ranelate has never been approved for use in the U.S. The over-the-counter strontium products you might find in the U.S. are probably either strontium citrate or strontium chloride.
American Bone Health does not recommend either strontium ranelate OR strontium citrate.
First:
Strontium citrate is an over-the-counter supplement. Very few dietary supplements have been through clinical trials; even fewer of those trials have been high-level or rigorous. The supplement industry (aka "small pharma") has "tremendous leeway to market products AS IF they are beneficial to human health." (NutritionAction) Supplement makers are supposed to follow good practices but don't have to prove that. (Personally, I find "small pharma" scarier than "big pharma" because of this.)
Second:
The efficacy of strontium for bone health is based on strontium ranelate (a pharmaceutical not a supplement) NOT strontium citrate (a supplement). They are not the same.
Strontium ranelate was available in Europe but has never been available in the U.S. because it never received FDA approval. (The FDA required more rigorous testing than the drug had received.)
Third:
Strontium ranelate was removed from the market in Europe a few years ago because of serious adverse effects including heart attacks and blood clots. More recently a generic version became available in the UK but carries a "black box" warning. It is only used for a very narrowly defined group of patients with severe OP and few cardiac risks.
Fourth:
The DXA scan—the "gold standard" for measuring bone density and diagnosing osteoporosis—is compromised by taking strontium
"Taking strontium supplements for any period of time is likely to make future bone density tests inaccurate. (Strontium may remain in the bones for as long as 7–10 years after the last dose.) Strontium has a chemical similarity to calcium and will replace calcium as the mineral in bone. Because strontium atoms are heavier than calcium atoms, swapping some of the calcium atoms with strontium atoms will make the bone mineral density appear to increase. This is not the same as making new bone. 'Currently, we do not have a way to measure the false increase in bone density that results when you take a supplement or a medication that includes strontium.' " (ABH)
Fifth:
Please notice that much of what shows up on the internet about strontium citrate comes from people/organizations who want to sell you something. There are some good articles backed by solid research, but you have to dig through a lot of thinly disguised sales pitches to find them. (I have a thick file of research articles on strontium....)
In answer to your question:
Is strontium citrate safe? Maybe. It probably won't kill you, but...
Is it beneficial? Probably not. There is very little evidence that it is beneficial for bone density. And it obscures the real data about bone density.
So the short answer is to stick to calcium and to get it from your diet (not supplements) if possible.
Resources:
There is a good summary on the American Bone Health website: americanbonehealth.org/medi...
I also recommend an article, "Problem Pills," in the November 2022 issue of NutritionAction on supplements. The subtitle is "Why the supplement aisle is the Wild West."
I thought about taking strontium citrate when I was first diagnosed, in fact I ordered it from Amazon but in the end I returned it. I really would have liked to take it but the more I read about it, it just seemed too risky to me - my very elderly mother had a stroke (mostl likely brought on by her over the counter self prescribed aspirin habit) and my 52 year old father died after his third heart attack.
After reading your refusal of strontium I have decided you are right it is too risky. I got mine from Vitacost and will not be taking it. Hope I can get my money back but doubt it. After an atomic bomb they have found strontium in the air. It replaces bone and makes Dexa scans inaccurate!!! I was told by a chiropractor and naturopathic doctor to take it but have decided they are wrong and my brother is right he knows chemistry and the periodic table!! He says it is dangerous to take it.
Strontium citrate is a naturually occuring mineral. It is found in ground water in many locations. The atom bomb story isn't relevant at all - it has no barring on this discussion. I'd recommend reading this study which shows strontium citrate's effectiveness in combination with vitamin D3, K (MK7 form), DHA (from purified fish oil), magnesium and exercise. researchgate.net/publicatio...
That study also cites a very large study done in Europe. More recent research finds that strontium both slows bone loss and stimulates bone growth. This is not 'small' or 'big' pharma - this is research.
I have decided to take it - and started about a month ago. I'll let you know in a year from now when I get my bone scan. There are no side effects. It should be taken 2 hrs separated from calcium - best taken just before bed.
Hi again, the link I sent is an academic site - but here is the same study on media commons : ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...
see also
hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2...
"Strontium, though currently thought as a relatively mild anabolic agent, is considered as a candidate in this respect due to its dual role in regulating osteoblastogenesis/osteoclastogenesis and osteogenesis/adipogenesis via its involvement in multiple pathways. Besides being able to be supplied systemically, the application of strontium is being much extended into various biomaterials and thereby tissue engineering strategies for the local bone lesions and defects."
I am not a doctor, so I do not perscribe anything - but due to bone loss and fracture, I have to consider osteroporosis meds. Rather than that taking osteroporosis meds, with their very scary side effects - I am trying strontium for a year - and will see what the results are and reassess then.
