I was diagnosed with osteoporosis 10 years ago. I am now 73. I have been taking v D and calcium/magnesium and walking and gardening. But I have continued to loose BMD. I have not gone on any medication because I am reluctant to take a drug that interferes with the body's natural bone remodelling process; and I am concerned about impacts on the digestive system. I am in good health otherwise.
Last year, my L1L4 BMD Tscore = -3.2. Left femoral neck BMD Tscore= -2.6. I saw a specialist who recommended Prolia. I decided to wait for a year and investigate options to Prolia.
I learned about Strontium citrate on this list. I read some research papers which recommended a combination of Strontium, D, and K2. I started taking Bone Basics (from AOR); 100 mcg vit K 2; increased units of v D from 2000 to 3000 and 680 mg of Strontium Citrate (from AOR).
I also went to a naturalist to improve my gut health, chronic inflammation and stiffness. I took some supplements to improve my gut health and reduce inflammation for several months. And I adjusted by diet to fish, nuts, seeds, lots of veggies, yams, potato, some legumes, and extremely little sugar, no commercial baked goods of any kind; and only some sour dough bread. Gut health is essential to absorb nutrients and supplements.
My last BMD test showed no decline - the score was identical to the previous year. This test was done 4 months after starting Strontium and about 8 months after my dietary changes. It is the first time in a decade that there has been no decline in BMD. My doctor said: 'whatever you are doing I want you to tell all my other patients". She had heard of Strontium Citrate - but said it was not 'popular'. She said that it will increase bone density - it is just slower acting. She ordered a follow up BMD test for a year from now to monitor results.
For the first time in many years, I am hopeful that there may be an effective way to treat this condition without resorting to drug therapies... and that I will be able to continue to garden into my very elder years without fear of fracture. And my overall health and energy has also improved.
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Frida22
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Well done for stopping the decline Frida22. I’d like to know how you did it too as I’m trying to halt my osteopenia getting worse. Would you mind sharing which supplements you use. Thank you.
I take Bone Basics (from AOR) - calculate how much calcium you get through food (should aim for at least 700 mg - the more the better) and only take supplements to bring total to 1,200 / day; 100 mcg vit K 2; I increased units of v D from 2000 to 3000 (but this is because at 2000 my v D was still low according to test - this may vary from person to person) and 680 mg of Strontium Citrate (from AOR) - which is the recommended amount. I also take fish oil, and I make a shake with black sesame seed, flax seed, blueberry, almond milk and protein powder - which I have every day. Exercise is also very important.
Thank you. That’s all very helpful. I’m in the UK and will need to investigate equivalent supplements. You’ve provided a good start. I hope your improvement continues.
I've been taking a low dose of strontium citrate for 3 years, which has increased my spine bone density and stabilised my hip density. But apparently there are supply issues with strontium so it may be difficult to find it. Also, you need to be aware that it may not be suitable for anyone with existing heart or kidney disease, including high blood pressure. Strontium ranelate, the prescription version, is known to worsen these; not enough research has been done to know whether that would also be true of strontium citrate, which would depend on whether it's the strontium itself or the ranelate compound that's the issue.
I've read research on Strontium ranelate and Strontium citrate, as well. You've summarized it well. Most information refers to Strontium ranelate. Here are some studies on Strontium citrate. See:
I buy Best Naturals strontium citrate in the UK. They sent me a message saying it was out of stock, but I've just checked and it seems to be available again.
This is wonderful! I am considering strontium, too. Just haven’t started yet. Have you had a REMS scan to look at your bone quality and compare to BMD test (assuming DEXA)? I know there are centers in Canada. I think it is $150 or so.
Studies show that strontium can reverse osteoporosis. As well, strontium has been shown to reduce fracture risk independent of bone density. As well, there are no known negative side effects associated with strontium citrate. My rheumatologist also confirmed this. I personally prefer to try strontium rather than drug therapy because of the fact that drug therapies interfere with the body's natural bone remodelling process and there can be serious side effects. If in a year's time I see an improvement in my BMD - then I will continue with strontium. If not - I will consider a drug therapy.
I have been on Prolia for 2 1/2 years and have had no side effects. I waited for years to even
take this, but after 3 spinal fractures I needed to do something quickly. I felt I had tried all the other good things that everyone talks about.
Anyway, while on Prolia I ended up needing an extraction, which was luckily about a month before my next shot. Thankfully, it all went well, and while I think about risks of ONJ, I try to be diligent about my dental care, and remain hopeful. I do understand about going on to another med if I eventually need to stop Prolia. I wish you luck in your quest for the best solution.
So many people say strontium citrate will increase t-scores, but it's "fake" because it "displaces calcium in the bones." My thought was, it's a mineral, it's adding something to the bones, wouldn't that still make them "stronger"?
I've been afraid to mention that I took strontium citrate for some months during this last year, especially on the FB osteoporosis groups, which seem to be very active. I had serious improvement in my spine score--a thing a lot of those vocal folks and 90% of what you get when you google it say is "impossible" without drugs. I did find a blurb that suggested strontium could account for/skew up to 50% of the perceived improvement in BMD. I also found a holistic type doctor (I think) who argued that it still makes your bones stronger and it's not a "fake" increase. Gah! I DID (inadvertently) take it in tandem with Vit D, K2, and melatonin...I just didn't take them together, since I'd read strontium should be taken...either first thing in the morning or on an empty stomach, while I'm taking melatonin right before bed and maybe my stomach should be empty, but it's usually not.
Anyway, I honestly forgot I'd taken it when I started posting about my good DEXA results...I think I almost felt shamed for trying it. But here's the deal: my bones are BAD. My spine score was -4.6 (age 61) and I HAD had fractures. I was open to taking drugs but based on what I read, I might have been too far gone for drugs; at best, I might manage to not get worse. Plus, getting into see the specialists who might prescribe something besides Fosamax takes time. I was already dealing with chronic pain. Surely...whatever the controversies around boron and strontium and such, it was worth trying in my case. Surely it couldn't be worse than decades of high powered drugs?
I'm so glad for you that your doctor applauded your success in slowing your osteoporosis down. I'm supposed to see the endocrinologist this week. He prescribed Evenity back in August, then forgot about me. When insurance denied me coverage, he got the memo but didn't see it. I could have pushed but decided by the time insurance got everything sorted out, I'd have done the whole year without drugs, so I might as well just see. I saw him again in November, didn't tell him that...he said he wanted to appeal, try to get insurance to cover Evenity, but if they wouldn't, then Reclast. And once again, someone dropped the ball. Never heard from them. I could've pestered them, but as I say, I wanted to see.
I was diagnosed in January 2023, so scheduled a follow-up DEXA for January 2024, even though I wouldn't have even a year of interventions under my belt. I just thought if I was getting worse, I needed to know, and then I would pursue whatever strong drug I could get. If I stayed the same, I might argue for some more time. Much to my surprise, my hips improved modestly (from -3.3, -3.5 respectively, to -3.1, -3.4,) but my spine went from -4.6 to -3.9. Even if strontium accounts for 50% of my "fake" t-score, that's still a 7.3% improvement.
And here's the thing: I think I can FEEL it. I have done all the other lifestyle things too, so hopefully my back muscles are stronger, but I have at least three fractures all in a row in my upper back, and when I put stress on my upper back (as happens when I work as a hairdresser,) those bones--not just the muscles, the bones--hurt. They STILL hurt, don't get me wrong. But five months ago, my back would be screaming within 5 minutes. Now I can go an hour, even 90 minutes, before I'm conscious of my back. (Trust me, this is a victory!)
This may still have nothing to do with bone density or strength, but it seems to my humble uneducated brain that if bone density or strength is improved, pain would be reduced. If putting cement in between the bones relieves pain, why wouldn't beefing up the mineral content also relieve pain?
I still haven't started taking strontium again. I honestly dread having to face my endocrinologist, which is bizarre, isn't it? It's not even my fault I'm not on Reclast, and you'd think he'd be happy for any improvement, whether it's pain reduction or my just being smarter about how I'm moving, but even though he's a nice man and I haven't felt as gaslighted by him as I have by my PCP, I've gotten no sense from him that he's any different from the people on FB who say it's impossible to improve without drugs, and...I like the feeling of hope my improvement without drugs has given me, even if it is "fake". I like not worrying that I might have a spontaneous femur fracture (he made it sound like that actually wasn't all that uncommon. But, the vibe also seems to be that the femur fracture is part of the price of...what? I've already got vertebral fractures, and while I know that a hip fracture is "worse," IS it, really? I mean, my grandma's hip/s were pretty much dust, not from falls, just from erosion. She never did stop walking. But those femur fractures are stomach turning.) I like feeling that I have some control in this, that I'm not helpless, at the mercy of care providers who might forget me, or insurance providers that decide the doctor-prescribed care isn't "medically necessary". Yet, I fear if I see him, he'll do everything he can to convince me I'm...deluded. Just because the "books" (and pharmaceutical companies?) say improvement, especially in very severe cases, is "impossible".
The story you relate regarding neglect by care providers is really distressing. I know others as well, who have had poor advise and care from care providers. I read a lot of studies on strontium prior to taking it. Strontium is heavier that calcium - so it will impact the bone density test - however, there is a formula to adjust for the variance. Its important to inform your health care provider that you are taking Strontium, and check that they are reading the bone density test with strontium taken into consideration. Strontium doesn't replace calcium in the bone - from how I understand it - Strontium fills in gaps or holes in the bone. It stimulates new bone formation. Strontium should not be taken at the same time as calcium - so usually it is recommended to take it 2 hours or more after taking calcium or any food with calcium. I take mine just before bed.
Hmm. I googled adjusting dexa results if you take strontium. There was disagreement about that too. One answer suggested just quit taking strontium a couple of weeks before your scan. I quit taking it several months before mine. But I read elsewhere that it can stay in your system for years. Several said no adjustments required. Someone else said just lop 50% off your improvement.
But, you do take it?
In the end, the important thing really is "do you fracture" and how you feel, right? It will be awhile before I trust my bones not to break, so I'll be taking it carefully.
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