Algae Cal Plus and Strontium. Does anybody have any experience of these supplements? They claim to improve bone density. They are very expensive.....but their claims to improve bone density seem somewhat plausible. And they are heavily marketed once you show any interest on Facebbok ad......keeps repeating. The calcium is derived from South American algae v. rock calcium. They infer that the usualky used rock derived calcium can build up in other unwanted area as well as bones. Having been PMR diagnosed since March 2016 and recent Dextascan showing new ostopenia in left hip (only) I am curious. Also GP has recommended Prolia injections 6 monthly.....but I am not keen to start taking Prolia. Admittedly I have been very remiss in relation to taking Ideos then Caltrate over the 3 years....now taking a once-per-day liquid infusion Osteofos D3. (Once a day is easier to do. I am a full time carer for my husband so tend to forget myself!) There are I think 17 minerals in the mix. But one wonders if these might interfere with other meds etc....Am confused! Probably little advice from mainstream med....although this stuff is availabe for about 17 years I think....??????
"Algae Cal and Strontiuml": Algae Cal Plus and... - PMRGCAuk
"Algae Cal and Strontiuml"
Hi nanor, just a quick look at WebMD suggests there is no evidence it is safe as a dietary supplement. It also say do not take if you have:
Heart disease: Don't use strontium if you have high blood pressure or heart disease.
Cerebrovascular disease (stroke): Don't use strontium if you have a history of stroke or poor circulation to the brain.
Paget's disease (a bone disease): Use strontium with caution. The bones of people with Paget's disease seem to take up more strontium than normal. It's not known how important this finding is for health.
Peripheral arterial disease (decreased blood flow through veins): Don't use strontium if you have peripheral arterial disease. Kidney problems: Strontium is eliminated by the kidneys and can build up in people with poor kidney function. Use strontium supplements with caution if you have kidney disease. Strontium ranelate should not be used if kidney disease is advanced.
Blood clotting disorders: Strontium ranelate is associated with a small increased risk of blood clots. There is concern that strontium might be more likely to cause blot clots in people with blood clotting disorders or those at high risk of blood clotting. It's best not to use strontium if you have a clotting disorder.
Hope this helps.
"recent Dextascan showing new ostopenia in left hip (only) "
What is the t-score please?
Will check and reply later tonight..have report at home....thanks....think it's -1.2
If that is correct - it is almost normal, you certainly don't need any bisphosphonates.
Thank you PROpro. So many confusing pages of scan results of 2016 and recent scan. Not layman friendly! Yes -1.2 in left hip (and it seems 1.1 in right hip?) . Spine fine! I cannot relate 1 to the other exactly but it seems they say that in 2016 I had a 10.2% chance of major ortho fracture in 10 years ...now 12.5%. The 10 year left hip fracture probability in 2016 was 10.2%....now 12.5%.
I am in the "recommendation category for considering pharmacologic treatment" due to high risk because of steroid use. After 3 years since PMR diagnosis I am on 6 to 7 mg. pred daily . I had gotten down to 2.5 a year ago but developed flares.....
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl... A mouse study showed Lithothamnium Calcareum algae increased bone strength and mineralisation. Also interesting reference to short term study that it reduced OA pain when walking.
Table 1 of all the elements present in LCalgae is fascinating. Which of these is important in strengthening bones? Anyone’s guess!
I’ve taken LCalgae as ‘Natures own bone support’.
Quote : "Table 1 of all the elements present in LCalgae is fascinating. Which of these is important in strengthening bones? Anyone’s guess!"
Weeeell... Strontium came in with high levels, as did Magnesium and Calcium. Very good article. Have saved it : will also post it up on the spondylitis site, both the f/b group and the kickAs group.. as looks like it is good for the gut, a bane of many a spondy, including myself. Am going to try it out - fed up with gut flares. (This article is most timely !)
Diet as well, most important.
Sorry it was table 1 with all the minerals. (Some of those not even named in the elementary table I learnt at school 😉)
I’m sure Sr, Ca & Mg are important players. It’s the minuscule amounts of an unknown other that I find fascinating. But taking this mix of everything should surely help, assuming not too much lead or arsenic 😮
Hope the info in that research proves useful. There was another rat piece that I read suggesting LC algae neither helped nor hindered stomach irritation. I’ll see if I can find it in case you’re interested.
sciencedirect.com/science/a...
That's great - look forward to further good read.
Agree - an amazing line up of micro minerals. Most interesting research. I'll change the quote to rectify the table #.
Thanks Soraya.
Is LCalgae available to buy on its own without other minerals etc? Thank you for taking the trouble to reply
I suspect not. I think LCalgae comes as a ‘job lot’. As I understand it the ‘leaves’ of the algae become mineralised, and then ultimately drop off to the sea floor from where they are harvested, presumably cleaned, and ground to powder. I don’t think they separate to component parts.
My tablets state calcium and magnesium, both from the algae, probably has lots of other unrecorded trace minerals. Also added are K2 and D3 (from lichen).
What tablets are these Soraya? I already take magnesium for night leg cramps. I gather one has to be careful with Vit K (2 or 3...am not sure) if one is on a blood thinner as they can "contradict" one another. Thanks for your interest!
Depends on the blood thinner - only the ones that work via vit K such as warfarin/coumadin
Correct, Vit-K2 counteracts the Warfarin blood thinner. But...even if on warfarin it is necessary to not neglect the K2. But better to take the K2 via spinach and othersuchleafy vegetables. A modicum a couple of times per week. I have a raft of info on that, will dig out, but will have to be later in the day. The 'whys' it is necessary to have K2.
I am on Warfarine, have been since Nov 2017. I take K2 via nutrition, INR steady as a rock.
I'm not on warfarin now but it never stopped me eating dark green goodies in bulk anyway. But that is because here in Italy they check and adjust and assume you will continue with your normal diet. In the UK they just say "don't eat ..." instead of explaining that a steady inclusion of everything is fine.
However as I understand it, K1 is what is in spinach and co and interferes with INR, K2 is derived differently and is a different substance which has less effect on INR anyway. But Heron knows far more than I do.
Just putting this up - very good paper from the American Institute of Health. Gives list of foods and their K1 - K2 - K4 - MK7 values (K3 is a no-go, bad one). Much infor :-
ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/V...
Note on the Ks and Warfarin : (snip) "... Warfarin (Coumadin®) and similar anticoagulants
Vitamin K can have a serious and potentially dangerous interaction with anticoagulants such as warfarin (Coumadin®), as well as phenprocoumon, acenocoumarol, and tioclomarol, which are commonly used in some European countries [7,8]. These drugs antagonize the activity of vitamin K, leading to the depletion of vitamin K-dependent clotting factors. People taking warfarin and similar anticoagulants need to maintain a consistent intake of vitamin K from food and supplements because sudden changes in vitamin K intakes can increase or decrease the anticoagulant effect [47]. Additional information on the interaction between warfarin and vitamin K is available from the National Institutes of Health Clinical Centerexternal link disclaimer."
Here's a snip from the NIH paper : cc.nih.gov/ccc/patient_educ...
"What can help keep INR/PT in the desired range?
To help warfarin (Coumadin) work effectively, it is important to keep your vitamin K
intake as consistent as possible. Sudden increases in vitamin K intake may decrease
the effect of warfarin (Coumadin). On the other hand, greatly lowering your vitamin K
intake could increase the effect of warfarin (Coumadin).
To keep INR/PT stable and within the recommended range, it is important to:
• Take your medicine exactly as your doctor directed.
• Have your INR/PT checked regularly.
• Keep your vitamin K intake consistent from day to day.
How do I keep my vitamin K intake consistent?
• Keep your intake of foods rich in vitamin K about the same each day. For
example, you may plan to eat only ½ cup of these foods per day. If you like
these foods and eat them often, you can eat more, but be consistent.
Do not a make any major changes in your intake of foods rich in vitamin K.
For example, if you typically have a spinach salad daily, do not stop eating it
entirely.
• Carefully consider dietary supplements (see page 3)."
Then follows a list of foods and details. Good info. IF have cut out all form of K2, then would suggest checking on your diet, and start to *slowly*add in food items rich in the Vit-Ks. Keep up with your INR results.
Ah! I may have misunderstood you!
LCALGAE can be purchased without additional vit K2 or D3, but by its very composition it will be a complex mix of minerals, mostly calcium.
I used Strontium CITRATE for several years. Reversed my oateoporosis. Strontium Ranalate is the chemicalised version of Strontium Citrate. Was mfc by Servier, a French pharma drug Co. Stront Ran is now withdrawn from the market place - as indeed are several drugs from the Servier pool !
Pharma is determined to use all in their corrupt power to blacken the use of Strontium Citrate. The bisphosphonate drugs are a cash cow, big on the bottom line ! Is known that the Bis drugs cause many unwanted side effects - including fractures. (Prolia has a dubious profile for side effects). Check out the Bis drugs by consulting drugs(dot)com. Then, for excellent information on Strontium Citrate, get hold of the book by Lara Pizzorno, 'Your Bones'. Is also recommended to take a few supplements : Vit-D3; Magnesium (M. Threonate is a good one); Boron; Calcium; CoQ10 ubicquinol; Vit-K2. Your Bones covers all the detail.
BTW - some time ago there was a good thread on this very subject, here on this forum. You might be able to search it out ?
What is Osteofos? As far as I can tell it's a kind of alendronate - same as alendronic acid - which is a bisphosphonate which would mean it's definitely not a harmless supplement. Please consider a Vitamin K2 supplement if you aren't already.
Strontium is heavier than calcium so it skews DXA scan results. It does make bones "denser" but I don't know if it really improves the health of those bones as normal nutrition would do.
As for Prolia, I don't know how anyone could be brave, or foolhardy, enough to risk taking that medication now that we know what can happen.
If you are taking Osteofos - you are on a bisphosphonate. Your bone density is fine - why on earth is the GP flogging you Prolia/denosumab?
Thank you PRO pro.... I note from web that Osteofos tablets appear to contain alendronate sodium but the Osteofos D3tm 1200mg/800 I.U. powder for oral suspension which I have been prescribed does not appear to contain this "fosamax". The list of ingredients is too long to list here but available on its web page. The previous supplements I was on were
Ideos and Caltrate
Both contain calcium carbonate
Osteofos has calcium as calcium phosphate....but I cannot find any web data that says that's a biophosphate. All very confusing!
Quite correct - it is just a supplement containing calcium and vit D3. The company obviously manufactures a matching set of medications for use together!
However - the fact remains: if you have t-scores in the -1.2 region, you do NOT need anything more than calcium and vit D3!
Two ways of dealing with the 'skew' DEXA scan whilst on Strontium Citrate. 1). Stop taking for 3/4 weeks before the scan - check time frame with the radiology dept. 2). Advise radiology dept, who will alter the gearings of the DEXA to take care of that. Warning, bit of a bind to make the alterations, but at least takes care of the discrepancy.
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