topic Re: Bone Density in Wellness

Bone Density

grandme — Sat, 06 Sep 2025 13:21:06 GMT

Hi friends. I recently had a Dexa scan and my doctor said I am headed for osteoporosis. I am going to be 80 in Jan. Had hysterectomy when I was 50. I have not been very active since covid so I blame myself for not exercising etc. I also have lung fibrosis and that slows me down. My doctor said I should start taking calcium 600mg twice a day and vitamin D 2000mg once a day during summer and in winter I should take 4000 mg of D. I think this is so high. I remember reading not good things about taking calcium. I take OFEV twice a day for my lung fibrosis to slow it down and get some side effects from that. Any thoughts? Thanks for listening.

Re: Bone Density

bargainsgirl — Sat, 06 Sep 2025 13:28:11 GMT

@grandme wrote:
Hi friends. I recently had a Dexa scan and my doctor said I am headed for osteoporosis. I am going to be 80 in Jan. Had hysterectomy when I was 50. I have not been very active since covid so I blame myself for not exercising etc. I also have lung fibrosis and that slows me down. My doctor said I should start taking calcium 600mg twice a day and vitamin D 2000mg once a day during summer and in winter I should take 4000 mg of D. I think this is so high. I remember reading not good things about taking calcium. I take OFEV twice a day for my lung fibrosis to slow it down and get some side effects from that. Any thoughts? Thanks for listening.

I have been taking Vit. D 2000 for 10 years since breast cancer. I am having another tooth implant in October. and my dentist said to double Vit. D to strenthen bone graft and implant. I also have been taking Calcium?Magnesium as well. I am 72. No problems with either.

Re: Bone Density

Icegoddess — Sat, 06 Sep 2025 13:55:44 GMT

@grandme Make sure you're not getting your units confused, MG is not the same as IU or MCG which is how vitamin D is usually sold.

50,000 IU = 1.25 MG.

5,000 IU = 125 MCG.

Almost all calcium supplements also contain some Vitamin D, unless you get a strictly calcium powder which is what I do. Calcium Citrate aka Citrical is the form best absorbed by the body. But, if you do that, you'll need to add in the Vitamin D which helps with geting the calcium to your bones, not just circulating in your bloodstream.

You also might want to add in K2 which helps with bone mineralization.

Re: Bone Density

nyc1 — Sat, 06 Sep 2025 14:07:46 GMT

Look into the Vit K2 MK7 supplement. That helps direct the calcium to your BONES and diverts it from going elsewhere. Andrew Lessman, whose vitamins I've been taking for over 33 years, makes a good one. I trust his research and quality. You can go on his website Procaps to learn more. HSN also carries his vitamins.
Take good care of yourself.

Re: Bone Density

Shelbelle — Sat, 06 Sep 2025 14:09:11 GMT

I am 73, been taking calcium for over 20 years and my bone density remains stable with some osteopenia. . I take calcium, D3, magnesium and K2, you need all 4 daily.

Re: Bone Density

Q-Checker — Sat, 06 Sep 2025 14:58:47 GMT

@grandme talk to your trusted physician. If you do not trust his competency, find another physician. It is not a good idea to seek medical advice from a website where it is likely that none of the responders spent a day in medical school. They mean well but have no clue about how much they do not know. Their recommmendations may unwittingly be medically contraindicated for you.

Re: Bone Density

wagirl — Sat, 06 Sep 2025 15:32:46 GMT

I need a dexa scan too, but I was told by my oncologist, cardiologist to take 5,000 units of vit D3 and have since 2012. but then I don't have the issues you have. No side effects from that tho. think I do need some calcium--

Re: Bone Density

ThinkingOutLoud — Sat, 06 Sep 2025 15:43:21 GMT

@Q-Checker wrote:
@grandme talk to your trusted physician. If you do not trust his competency, find another physician. It is not a good idea to seek medical advice from a website where it is likely that none of the responders spent a day in medical school. They mean well but have no clue about how much they do not know. Their recommmendations may unwittingly be medically contraindicated for you.

You have no idea what we know or what our credentials are. Furthermore, physicians get very little education on nutrition and supplements so they're not always as competent as you make it seem. Using a sounding board and getting reassurance from others doesn't hurt. The poster can take it or leave it.

Re: Bone Density

bellaartiste — Sat, 06 Sep 2025 15:37:19 GMT

I have been fighting osteopenia for a couple of years now. My numbers are good now.

Besides all the supplements I returned to hand weights. I am now up to 8 pound weights that I work with them almost everyday. Start slow with very light weights. It is the one thing doctors will say over and over again to strengthen bones you need to pick up weights.

Best of luck to you!

Re: Bone Density

ThinkingOutLoud — Sat, 06 Sep 2025 15:41:12 GMT

The dosage doctors recommend for supplements sometimes only puts a person in the 'ok' range, not even the high range so I don't think 4000 of vitamin D is too much as there are people who take more than that. Also, the price of supplements doesn't always indicate quality so don't think you need to spend more than you're able.

Re: Bone Density

FranandZoe — Sat, 06 Sep 2025 16:36:00 GMT

I was diagnosed with osteopenia years ago (precurser to osteoorosis) and my dr put me on Calcium and Vitamin D. Took it for many years - like 20. About two years ago my kidney dr took me off the Calcium and Vitamin D as my levels are normal and they can cause kidney stones if you take too much needlessly. Levels are still normal.

My friend was diagnosed with osteopenia about 40 years ago and was told she'd have osteoporosis. She doesn't. She's in her 80s.

Re: Bone Density

Shelbelle — Sat, 06 Sep 2025 16:31:50 GMT

I will agree here, docs unless trained in Traditional Med and Homeopathic Med know very little about supps and vitamins. I can mention a supp to my doc and she just gives me a blank stare!! check our Dr Andrew Weil, he is trained in both.

Re: Bone Density

skatting44 — Sat, 06 Sep 2025 18:01:11 GMT

Can't believe your Doctor waited till you were 80 yrs old and showing a trend to osteoporosis .

Women should be taking calcium & Vit D early in their adulthood .

A yearly Wellness checkup all preventative health care measures should be addressed

Re: Bone Density

lizzys — Sat, 06 Sep 2025 20:05:49 GMT

@grandme First I want to say cheers to you for being almost 80 and only having osteopenia. You must be doing something right!

Vitamin D Summer vs Winter dosage - It takes being out in the sun without sunscreen to get natural vitamin D, so if you are not doing that, then the winter dosage might be what you should take year round. Ideally your doctor should test for your vitamin D in the summer and the winter, but most don't. I like to keep my vitamin D in the 50-65 range. The in-range on the blood test starts at 30, but that is too low for bone health.

Calcium - It drives me crazy when doctors say to take 600 mg. of calcium twice a day with your vitamin D. It is very important to take Vitamin K2 MK7 and magnesium with them. Also, it is good to get a lot of your calcium from your food. Your body can only metabolize 500-600 mg. of calcium at one time depending on what you are eating. You could be getting too much. I was drinking Fairlfe protein shakes for breakfast and did not realize they had 750 mg. of calcium in them. If I had taken the 600mg. of calcium that morning, it would have been way too much at one time!!! I buy calcium in 250 mg. That way I can easily make up what I doidn't get in my food and my multi-vitamin.

Vitamin K2 in the form of MK7 is what helps guide the calcium to the bones instead of calcifying in the heart. Doctors should know by now that this is very important.

Don't blame yourself for not exercising these last years. You are still doing good and you can add a little weights in starting now. It really doesn't take a lot. Take it slow and build from there.

Margaret Martin had a great Youtube channel. She shows exercises to help bones and also ways to move carefully so you don't fracture. Her website is full of information too. It is called Melioguide.

My goal is to still be in Osteopenia by the time I am 80.

Take care @grandme

Re: Bone Density

on the bay — Sat, 06 Sep 2025 20:10:17 GMT

@grandme,

There has been so many helpful discussions about this recently on this forum

I never knew about k2 until I read about it here! It directs the calcium to your bones instead of your blood vessels!

When I asked my cardiologist about this he said he hadn't heard about it and to ask my endocrinologist about it. When I asked my endocrinologist about it he said he didn't know anything about it! WTH?!

So yes! Most doctors receive very little if any training about supplements. And they might have no time or interest in keeping up with the latest studies!

That said, everyone should research what supplemets are ok for them and most all can cause side effects even if unusual.

Anytime I take something new whether food or medicine or supplement, if something unusual is happening to me, I look up side effects of whatever.

Each individual is so unique and we really have to advocate for ourselves with a little help from our friends!

Also, to me it is alarming that so many doctors prescribe lots of calcium esp to women without knowing about the ill effects it can have on the heart! Another reason to take the k2 which for some however can also cause side effects.

I will say, how much I appreciate and give gold stars to esp for me, women drs who keep up on supplements, vitamins and alternative treatments. These are regular primary care drs who do a great job.

So, no I do not agree with the all too often advice to just ask your dr. Ask a lot! Research a lot! And when you find that dr that listens and is knowledgable about all of these things, that is a keeper!

Re: Bone Density

cantdrive55 — Sat, 06 Sep 2025 20:17:35 GMT

@nyc1 Agree. Andrew Lessman's formula is excellent for both what is in it, and what is not. I was delighted to find a plant based soy free formulation.
PS OP, if it's more convenient for you, it's available on Amazon..

Re: Bone Density

SilleeMee — Sat, 06 Sep 2025 20:57:18 GMT

There's a website that I find very helpful. It's all about osteoporosis and bone health including diet and supps. Take a look:

BoneHealthandOsteoporosisFoundation dot org

Re: Bone Density

Shelbelle — Sat, 06 Sep 2025 21:07:33 GMT

I take Doctors Best K2 MK-7. it is made from chick peas,. not fermented soy as most are. I take one cap daily 100 mcg

Re: Bone Density

poregirl — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 04:30:08 GMT

if your calcium doesnt include K2 MK-7 I wouldnt bother. It's not safe. Calcium can accumulate in the heart and give you heart problems.

Re: Bone Density

on the bay — Sat, 06 Sep 2025 22:02:14 GMT

@poregirl wrote:
if your calcium doesnt include K2 MK-7 I wouldnt bother. It's not safe. Calcium can acculate in the heart and give you heart problems.

@poregirl,

Thank you!

It's been years since there has been news and warnings about this esp for women and all drs should be aware of this by now but they aren't!