Hello everyone,
I've had the results of my DEXA scan which shows I am at the top of the osteopenia score - any higher and I will have osteoporosis. Oddly, this is only in my hips - the scan showed my spine and femur compares well with someone in their 20s. I'm wondering if this is in any way linked to thyroid disease and does anyone else on this forum supplement or medicate for poor bone density alongside their thyroid meds and supplements?
Thank you
An overactive thyroid is definitely a link to osteoporosis. As are several other conditions being coeliac, having rheumatoid arthritis, parathyroid gland problems- parathyroid glands not the same as thyroid, being or having been anorexic, taking steroids several other things I’m in the car at the moment - passenger not driving 😉so I can’t look up links for you but basically look on Bone Health on Healthunlocked and look at the Royal Osteoporosis Society website.
I take vitamin D, a little extra calcium- I get a lot from my diet, magnesium, boron, omega 3 DHA oil, think I’ve missed something but I can’t remember off hand - all that and lots of weight bearing exercise plus Pilates and a lot of walking. Be glad you’ve found out while you’re still osteopenic.
nhs.uk/conditions/osteoporo...
Vitamin K2 ? 🙂
Oh yes, K2-Mk7 I knew I’d missed something important.
I take the Better You Vit D + K2. Is K2 a supplement that can be taken alone ?
I'm not sure.... You can definitely buy it separately MK 4, MK7 and MK11 and in different strengths but whether it needs to be taken in the same mouthful as Vit D I don't know.
Thanks for replying. That's another question for the bone health group.
I had a Dexa earlier this year with it showing deterioration in my hips (though considered age related osteopenia) and have since been adding bonebalance.co.uk/
to my morning cuppa and fortifying my dairy free milk with calcium citrate🤷♀️along with the usual magnesium, Vit D + K2 MK7 and all the other supplements us hypo's rattle with 😬
Thought I'd give it a year and then re scan?
Thanks for the heads up. I had a look at Bone Balance - like all collagen it isn't cheap! Would you mind telling me how long you've been on it and do you notice any difference yet. I take all the other supplements and more that you mention and also rattle.
I've been using it since August... trouble is you have no idea without a scan what is going on do you 🤷♀️ and I'm guessing it needs a little patience else I might turn into the elephant man?😕... I liked the fact that this one is rather different than the usual collagen offerings with a bit more science to back it up.... tbh can't remember the blurb but felt the need to do something 🫤 radd gave me the heads up and has a much better memory than I
Thanks for posting that - it look interesting. Is it really flavourless?
Weirdly yes! It disappears in a cup of tea and not even an after taste 😅
Brilliant - thanks!!
Would you be able to send a link to the brand of Vit D + K2 MK7 you use. I’m completely clueless here. Thanks
natureprovides.com/collecti...
FZBX5 was a £5 off gift card that came with my last delivery (not one of those that gains me anything 🤗)
Thank you. That’s very kind of you to include the code.
Just makes it a bit cheaper going direct and if you have multiple email addresses you can use it several times 🤗 every little helps with our expensive supplements
Yes, thank you for pointing out that at least I've found out. I have an underachieve thyroid with suppressed TSH until recently. I'll also have a look at the Bone Health group. Looks like Ill need to join a gym which is a challenge for someone intrinsically lazy....
Boron is a supplement I haven't heard of
Suggest you have a look here:
ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/B...
Thanks Helvella. I didn’t know any of that. Another supplement to add to the long list ……
I still don't know much about it - but I know where to look if I wake up really wanting to know about boron! 
I believe if there is a large difference between Hip and Spine scores that the test is considered invalid/corrupt/faulty.
Are you on the HealthUnlocked Bone Health group ? Very helpful advice there ...
Thanks Spritze. I'm waiting on a copy of my scan results so may be able to ask more questions on the Bone Health Group when I get them.
Interesting I wonder what they consider to be a large discrepancy?
How did you find this out? Do you know what would be a large difference between the scores.
Thanks
Spritze, Piglet1956 , TiggerMe
These differences between hip and spine T-scores (when one defines (near) normal bone density and the other an osteoporosis state) does not invalidate the DEXA results but makes the FRAX calculation difficult. This may be overlooked by clinicians and risk osteoporotic fractures being underestimated.
I have reversed an osteopenia state over several years (evidenced by DEXA scans) through supplements mentioned above but also importantly adequate T3 levels and HRT (oestrogen helps bone health in several ways). I added the Bone Balance about 18 months ago for maintenance purposes.
Bone balance uses collagen but in a a scenically proven compound called 'bioactive collagen peptides' (or commercial patented name FORTIBONE) that is directly absorbed by bone tissue. Several long term studies have found it to be effective in encouraging better bone building and bone mineralisation whilst reducing activity of bone breakdown cells and degeneration enzymes. These results mean it is now classified as a Food For Special Medical Purpose (FSMP) to be used under medical care although you can buy it direct from the website as Eeyore and myself have done. I suspect this will eventually change.
The paper they use for advertising purpose is fairly recent and simple to understand .... pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/345...
Results: Supplementation with bioactive collagen peptides during follow-up led to a clinically relevant increase in BMD in the spine. These findings were consistent with the results for the femoral neck.
Conclusions: Long-term supplementation with specific bioactive collagen peptides appears to be effective in counteracting losses in BMD. Moreover, significant increases in BMD could contribute to improved bone stability.
But if you look on their website you will find over 60 scientific pieces of literature regarding the bioavailability of this particular collagen product and its success in accumulating/maintaining good bone health.
Excellent Radd 👏 I knew you'd have the words 🤗
I'm like you in that I shan't know if its the improvements to my fT3 which have been low for I don't know how long or improved oestrogen levels again these fell of a cliff 5 years ago but could have been detrimental long before ( though have been on HRT for 4 years now)? Or perhaps the addition of this stuff... but of all the things available I'm happy to take a punt on it as the NHS will only help when my bones are holey or snap ☹️
Depending on severity of T-scores it might take longer than a year to reverse damage or even see improvements when considering the importance of T3/sex hormones regarding bone health, as these levels not only have to optimised first but properly utilised for the body to accumulate the benefits. Only then can Bone Balance fully do its job.
Thank you radd. It’s great to hear you have been able to improve your bone density. That gives me hope.
What you say makes so much sense to me. My T3 levels have reduced as TSH was suppressed and I’m seeing the return of some symptoms. I have seen three Endos and a functional doctor but I don't feel any of them look at the whole picture. It makes sense that it is low T3 over a long, long time that has caused the deterioration in bone density rather than the brief period when TSH was suppressed. I have inherited the DIO2 variant gene from 1 parent.
I really need to see someone who will look at all hormone levels and wonder how you found people to help you with adrenals, sex hormones, thyroid hormones.
In the meantime I'm thinking of increasing my Levo back to 100/75 plus 2 x5 Lio as T3 was much improved before it plummeted this year when it was reduced to 75 each day in April. I have some left over and probably enough to keep me going until I get an appointment with someone who knows what they are doing. Does such a person exist?
An interesting article on osteopenia that is worth reading :
npr.org/2009/12/21/12160981...
These links might be of interest. some are quite old, and there could be some duplication :
thyroidpatients.ca/2018/07/...
thyroidpatients.ca/2019/07/...
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/825...
ajmc.com/view/thyroidstimul...
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Thank you so much for taking the time to send these links.
You're welcome.
Thyroid and Lyme disease
Adrenal insufficiency or thyroid disease? 
Hypothyroidism osteopenia and hyperparathyroidism
Thyroid Hormone and Heart Disease
