Osteopenia

[Sunset123]

I’ve had dexa scans in the past and the latest was June. Comparing the results to the previous years it fluctuates up-and-down, but I have osteopenia. Is it necessary to go on any medicine for the bones? I do take calcium, vitamin D and not sure if I should take K2. I’ve heard mixed reviews about it

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It depends what the t-scores are. I have osteopenia - all that means is that my bone density is lower than it was when I was 30. Hardly surprising at 66! My t-scores were about -1.3 now, down a little bit from 7 years earlier, and still well within "normal range not requiring treatment".

Osteopenia runs from -1.0 to -2.5, below -2.5 is osteoporosis. The closer you are to -1.0 the better - heading for -2.5 suggests you might need something.

[Primarose]

Hi Sunset123, have they told you take Bisphosphonates?

I was told that I had osteoporosis then they changed their minds and made in osteopenia. I was told that I must take AA or risk death from fractures.

I refused the AA after reading a lot of articles on it. I do take Calcichews.

Check out:- askapatient.com/viewrating....

[HeronNS]

If you have osteopenia, that is really "low bone mass" and is actually normal as we age. The important thing is not to allow it to progress and by taking supplements and doing appropriate exercise as well as maintaining a healthy diet you will be doing what you can to maintain your bones without resorting to the drugs which are appearing worse and worse the more we learn about the long term effects.

Vitamin K2 is essential to make sure calcium goes into the bones and doesn't settle into places where it's not wanted and can do harm, like onto the walls of blood vessels or into organs. If you are on a blood thinning medication you would need to make sure that Vitamin K2 is safe for you, but even so it will have less of an effect on blood clotting than Vitamin K1 does. I haven't heard of any other caveats and would be interested to know what they are if you have misgivings. I credit Vitamin K2 for being one of the factors which has helped me improve my bone density without drugs.

[Sunset123 in reply to HeronNS]

You are right. I try so hard to stay away from long term drugs. What is the name of the vitamin k2 you use?

[HeronNS in reply to Sunset123]

I just buy capsules made from organic natto. I believe there are others on the forum who have had good experience with a spray, and this is supposed to be easier to absorb. I keep meaning to look for it myself. It's also available, probably in lesser amounts, in bone supplements which include other micronutrients. I honestly don't know if MK-4 or MK-7 is better, or whether we should be trying to get both. My supplement happens to be MK-7.

[Sunset123 in reply to HeronNS]

I am sorry I don’t mean to bother you again but I don’t understand what you mean By Mk4 or MK7. Is that the brand of the k2? I am new to this K2 supplement

[HeronNS in reply to Sunset123]

Different kinds of K2. Sorry, as you said you'd read mixed reviews I figured you'd understand.

healthline.com/nutrition/vi...

[Linny3]

I have had osteopenia for years. 1 year after going on prednisone I got a stress fracture in my back and one in my foot. They now say I have osteoporosis. They want me on one of those bone building drugs but they scare me to much. I have chosen to go on one of the estrogen drugs for bone building. I also take calcium, d3 and k. I take a plant based k2+d3 with coconut oil.

[Sunset123 in reply to Linny3]

I’m sorry to hear that. I hope this works for you

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I have oesteo in my spine but refuse to take any more drugs. Take CalD and K2 Mk7. The latter I get from Oxford Vitality a British Company.