Are any of you diagnosed with Osteoporosis taking supplements, Calcium, D3, K, etc. even though blood tests show normal range? I have been advised it is not necessary to take supplements if blood tests normal. Too much Calcium may increase risk of other health issues. My PCP advises taking multivitamin only as blood tests for Calcium and D are in normal range. I do have severe Osteoporosis and am currently on Fosamax.
Your input will be appreciated. Have a Great Day Today! 🌷
your blood work can tell you if calcium is where it is suppose to be. I have osteoporosis since 2000. Now only calcium supplementation is in whole organic yogurt.
Blood calcium simply tells you whether your body is doing what it should and maintaining it within a tight normal range. If your intake isn't sufficient, your blood calcium may still be normal but your bones lose out because the blood is prioritised. Most people have normal blood calcium, regardless of how much calcium they take in. You need to work out your average daily calcium intake from diet to know whether or not you need to supplement.
Yes I still take calcium , vit D and K 2 but previous GP said no need to take every day.
Sadly a lot of GPs don't understand blood calcium levels.
I definately consume calcium in diet and know vit D level ok so concerned I may have too much with supplementation as does tend to make me constipated!
It's recommended to get calcium from diet, but we all need to supplement Vit D in the winter, most of us need it all year round, daily, not alternate days!
If the Ca is making you constipated, take magnesium at night before bed.
Magnesium citrate is the one for constipation. Other forms of Magnesium less for constipation. Magnesium chelated or glycinate good for bones guts sleep and muscles. Do not take magnesium amd calcium together. Magnesium can be taken with vit d3, k2, omega 3
Good Morning, thank you for this information, very helpful👍
My calcium levels are always within normal range. I have been taking supplements for years as was advised to. The new osteo dr I am seeing says 1200ish mg per day and that 600 of that needs to come from food. I don't eat processed food so hard to get without calcium fortified things. Dairy is the best but some people can't tolerate it. I eat lots of raw veggies but calcium only comes from cooking some like spinach.
My endocrinologist has me take 500 mg a day plus D 3. I also take, after having read of others on this website, vitamin k and a probiotic. I also try to consume at least a couple or two of dairy everyday. I had been on Prolia for about 7 years, successfully, and a few months ago transitioned to my first shot of Reclast to be able to retain the benefits of Prolia. Hope this helps.
hi bluemooner,
Did you have any side effects transitioning to reclast? What was it? Alendronate acid or zolendrone? Did you do extend time rather than the30 minute quick infusion?
I’ve had 3 prolia injection and want off due to side effects and recommendation from dermatologist.
I had reclast 2 years ago with no side effects (so far) as it stays in your system. I have an endo who measures my blood levels every six months and said it is still in my system so I don't need another injection now. I drank lots of water before and after the injection and had an i.v. with water for 15 minutes after the injection.
I got off Fosamax after about 10 months. I hated every week. Retained fluid all the time 2-3 pounds which wouldn't leave and my blood pressure went sky high when I got it down to normal. I am now taking New chapter K2D3 supplements that have good write ups about bone density inproving after a year on it. My year wont be up til next September but feel like I am doing some good for my bones by taking it.. Doctors of course have no idea what they are about. Good luck.
Bugosun ,
Please note that blood calcium levels are always kept in range (pH: 7.0). If your body becomes too acidic, your body retrieves calcium from your bones and keeps it in range. So, it is not useful to measure serum calcium.
Let me give you my practical experience with respect to Osteopenia/Osteoporosis. I did my DEXA scan 2 years after I got back pain and pain in various joints. The Z/T score was around minus 2.4. I consulted many GPs. As usual they suggested various tablets like calcium stereate malate and others. They asked me to double my milk intake. I started reading about it and found that the root cause is the alkaline-acidic imbalance in the body. When your body becomes too acidic, body compensates it and maintains Ph of around 7.0 by drawing calcium (and other minerals) from your bones. If this happens for a long time,then your bone density reduces.
This is what I did to improve my condition.
1) Stopped pasteurized milk completely. Its better not to have this milk as all the good bacterias along with bad bacteria get killed during the process. I switched to raw milk.
2) Added two spoons of unsweetened whey protein whenever I had
3) Ca 1000 mg ( have 2 times in a day, 500 mg each as our body absorbs maximum of 400 mg in one shot)
4) Mg 500 mg ( have 2 times in a day, 250 mg each You can take even more as RDA is 520 mg for a 40+ male). The usual ratio of Ca:Mg is 2:1. I take plant based calcium, magnesium combination(I get in online shops here in India).
5) Chelated Boron supplements (max of 6 mg))
5) Vitamin D3 5000 IU (have 2 times in a day, 2500 IU each). This is critical in absorbing the calcium into your intestine. Switched to daily dosage of around 5000 IU (you need figure this limit your after doing blood tests)
6) K2-MK7 220 mcg ( Per vitamink2.com.au, Vitamin K2 has been shown to effectively decrease the bone resorption process. The process was significant after 3 years of treatment with nutritional dosage (180 mcg) of vitamin K2 – MK-7)
Its preferable to have Organic or Plant-based supplements. I did not stop my daily walk of around 45 minutes.
I did some reading and found that Procollagen Type 1 N propeptide (P1NP) test for bone formation and the C-terminal telopeptide, sCTX1 test for bone resorption are much more accurate.
Good Morning, thank you for sharing, helpful information. Have you received significant results from you treatment plan?
i have osteoporosis
I take vitamin d3 & mk7. Endo suggested taking caltrate or food like yogurt, milk & sardines! I am going the food options! I heard that fosamax has side effects!
Fosamax has side effects, but the risks of not taking it are far more likely and serious. Generally, the more serious the disease, the more likely the medication to treat it will produce side effects. Everyone rolls their own dice.
Bisphosphonates reduce fracture risk by 50%. For example, if you have a 10% risk of fractures without medication, that means 10 in 100 people would fracture in the next 10 years, 90 wouldn't. With the meds that would reduce to 5 in 100 people still fracturing despite the meds, with fractures prevented in 5 people. So if your fracture risk isn't very high, it's debatable whether the risk of fractures outweighs the risk of medication side effects. Ultimately it's down to personal assessment of risk.
Anyone with alendronate side effects?
Can I improve BMD without meds?
Recently diagnosed with Osteopenia 😳
newly diagnosed and anxious
Research and Future of Osteoporosis Treatment
