Boron

[CaraDee]

Hi AllHas anyone heard of taking boron supplements instead of alendronic acid?

(I have some osteopenia and am on prednisolone for PMR.)

Many thanks

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

This was posted previously -but not often mentioned -so guessing not -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

..and osteopenia doesn’t necessarily become osteoporosis … so you probably don’t need AA.. as often said, most people of our age have osteopenia anyways.

[CaraDee in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks very much for this info, DorsetLady.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to CaraDee]

See in your reply to PMRpro osteoporosis is in family, so guess you are aware of ROS website -

theros.org.uk

[PMRpro Ambassador]

"some osteopenia" - what do you mean by that? What are your t-scores?

I just had a mini-rant on another post - osteopenia is NOT a "diagnosis", it is NOT a pathological state. It just means your bone density is lower than that of the average 30 year old which is when bone density is at its peak. So then it comes down to degree as the report will say osteopenia for anything slightly under normal all the way to marginally above osteoporosis.

Boron is probably important - but in trace amounts. It doesn't need a lot and if you eat fruit and vegetable you almost certainly get enough, It isn't a magic way of improving bone density though.

webmd.com/diet/foods-high-i...

I think HeronNS did some research into boron for bone health - maybe she will comment/

[CaraDee in reply to PMRpro]

Hi PMRpro

I think it was -1.7 on the left hip, if I remember correctly.

Both my parents has osteoporosis, and my dad had Paget Disease of the Bone, so I think I'm a bit anxious about taking the right measures.

That said, I've read negative reports about Alendronic Acid on this site, so I wondered whether Boron would be a substitute.

Thanks

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to CaraDee]

I don't think it alone would be a replacement. That t-score is slightly less than mine was after 12 years on pred and the local guru said just keep doing what you have been doing! Which is lots of calcium foods as I stopped the supplement because of bladder irritation and 4000 IU vit D per day. And I try to walk for half an hour at least every day.

HeronNS is the expert on non-pharmaceutical approaches.

[CaraDee in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks very much for this info.☺️

[HeronNS in reply to CaraDee]

Boron, as PMRpro pointed out, is not a substitute, but it is an important micronutrient, along with several others, which help maintain and improve bones. That's why a lot of people eat prunes every day as it is one of the foods which reliably contains boron, there are others. I wrote my story quite a long time ago, but you may find it of interest. And please don't hesitate to ask questions. There are a growing number of people who have successfully managed without taking bone meds, although there is certainly a place for them. Personally I think nutrition and exercise are the best management tools for those of us who are not in any imminent danger of fracture, and anyone really who has not experienced any fragility fractures. After a fragility fracture I suspect following both the nutrition and a safe exercise program along with a course of something like AA makes sense, simply bcause one would want to avoid further fractures. I have to say, given what a klutz I am, the mere fact that, touch wood, I haven't broken anything since 2015 goes to show my regimen works for me!

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[CaraDee in reply to HeronNS]

Very helpful - thanks very much for this!

I think I will carry on with the Alendronic Acid for now.

Best wishes - hope you are well.

[HeronNS in reply to CaraDee]

Take your vitamins anyway!