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Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,992
Registered: ‎03-16-2010

This is from Dr Weil I did not put it in a link but it is easly referenced.

 

The drug you no doubt read about is strontium ranelate, a combination of the mineral strontium with ranelic acid. It has been licensed for sale in the UK and elsewhere in Europe for treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. A number of studies have shown that it can strengthen bone and reduce the risk of fractures, even among women 74 years of age or older when risks are highest. Use of strontium ranelate to strengthen bone and prevent fractures has been escalating since the positive results of a three-year clinical trial were published in the January 29, 2004 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. In that study, researchers in Europe and Australia randomly assigned 1,649 women age 50 and older who had at least one vertebral fracture due to osteoporosis to take calcium plus vitamin D and two grams of strontium ranelate or just calcium and vitamin D without the drug. The women who took the supplements and the drug had fewer new vertebral fractures and increased bone mineral density of the spine and hip to a greater degree than the women who took only the supplements. In fact, the supplement group actually showed a loss of bone mineral density. Since then at least one other study has shown that strontium ranelate reduces the risk of non-vertebral fractures, including hip fractures.

In Britain, the recommended dose is two grams daily taken at bedtime, at least two hours after eating (any type of food) or drinking (any liquid other than water), both of which can affect absorption.

Strontium ranelate is not yet approved by the FDA for treatment or prevention of osteoporosis in the United States. It remains under study.

 

 

 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 28,707
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Strontium for Bone Density

I dont know a thing about this drug but I know I take Dr Weils words as gospel!!!

Regular Contributor
Posts: 243
Registered: ‎02-18-2012

Re: Strontium for Bone Density

I just checked on Amazon and they have several Strontium products for bone strength, but no strontium ranelate.  I would love to find something that helps bone density other than Boniva-type products.  My mother had spontaneous fracture of her femur while taking bizphosphinate (sp?) prescription.  I  know of two others with the same issue.  

Honored Contributor
Posts: 35,600
Registered: ‎05-22-2016

Re: Strontium for Bone Density

[ Edited ]

Strontium and calcium are metals. Strontium reacts with calcium receptors in the formation of collagen to make bone tissue strong.  However, strontium is not involved in making new bone tissue but it makes it stronger by strengthening the bonds between silica and collagen.

 

Strontium is heavier than calcium so when strontium is incorporated into bone tissue it only appears to increase bone density when in fact no new bone tissue has formed.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 14,658
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Strontium for Bone Density

@granddi,

Thanks to you posting this I just read a long article re Strontium. There are 3 kinds-

natural strontium in the form of strontium citrate

 

strontium ranelate, a lab created strontium

 

strontium-90 ( a radioactive strontium not related or used for humans).

 

The strontium ranelate was never approved in the US and Canada due to concerns about the toxitity of the ranelate. Also why it is not FDA approved.Women were having heart attacks and blood clots and other severe side effects while on the ranelate form.It has been used in Europe but is now recommended not to use it for osteoporosis.

 

Some clinical studies say strontium citrate has shown lots of promise in preventing and building bone along with vit d and calcium (but not too much calcium which was reported to cause heart problems in women long ago). 

 

However other studies believe that there are false dexa improvements from the strontium saying it does not actually increase bone density, and that calcium is still the best supplement for bone health.

 

So what to believe? I don't know.

Many of my doctors of course have wanted to prescribe any of the drugs like boniva, reclast etc all of which I have tried with awful effects, or no improvement in dexa scans.

 

I remember taking strontium at one time and don't know why I stopped.

 

But thank you for mentioning this @granddi! I like that strontium citrate is reported not to have side effects in patients who were in the clinical trials as well as no fractures.  I've tried all the rx's for osteoporosis except prolia. My mother took prolia as well as boniva and had several fractures while taking each. 

So anything aside from these is a welcome thing.

 

What does anyone think about all this?

I used to read Dr Weil all the time but some things he says seem outdated to me or not accurate.

 

 

"If you walk the footsteps of a stranger, you'll learn things you never knew. Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains? can you paint with all the colors of the wind?"
Occasional Contributor
Posts: 18
Registered: ‎07-06-2020

Re: Strontium for Bone Density

Check out Ipriflavone . I take this and so does my brother , we both have reversed our bone loss. Sold at health food  websites.  Also acts like  viagra for women ,an added benefit. 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 14,658
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Strontium for Bone Density

That is wonderful that you both have reversed your bone loss @kitpach.

I read that there is concern that ipriflavone may lower the white bood cell count especially with those with weak immune systems. It is so hard to know what is best, especially with so many supplements out there.

"If you walk the footsteps of a stranger, you'll learn things you never knew. Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains? can you paint with all the colors of the wind?"
Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,992
Registered: ‎03-16-2010

Re: Strontium for Bone Density


@kitpach wrote:

Check out Ipriflavone . I take this and so does my brother , we both have reversed our bone loss. Sold at health food  websites.  Also acts like  viagra for women ,an added benefit. 


From the National Womens Health Network

 

A study was conducted to determine if Ipriflavone was a safe and effective way to prevent postmenopausal bone loss. The study involved 474 women ages 45 to 75 years old with lower than normal bone mineral densities (BMD). Some participants were given 600 mg of Ipriflavone each day, while others were given a placebo. Every participant received a 500 mg calcium supplement each day. The study found that Ipriflavone does not prevent bone loss. It also found that there are some risks associated with Ipriflavone use. Some women taking Ipriflavone developed lymphocytopenia, which is a disorder marked by low levels of lymphocytes. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell associated with immune health. Based on this information, it might be best to explore alternative methods to prevent osteoporosis.

 

I'm at the high range of osteopenia and will check out other reports on ipriflavone. 

 

@SilleeMee I'm wondering then, if after taking strontium, and bone densitity shows improvement, this is in fact a false positive?Why would it be approved in UK/Europe? 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 35,600
Registered: ‎05-22-2016

Re: Strontium for Bone Density

[ Edited ]

I take (bamboo) silica extract powder. It has made my bone density normal and it used to be in the osteoporosis end of the the scale. I've recommended silica supps here for quite some time b/c it works and it's safe.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 35,600
Registered: ‎05-22-2016

Re: Strontium for Bone Density


@granddi wrote:

@SilleeMee I'm wondering then, if after taking strontium, and bone densitity shows improvement, this is in fact a false positive?Why would it be approved in UK/Europe? 


 

 

@granddi 

False positive...it appears that way to me according to what I've read. 

I don't know why it's approved in the UK / Europe.