OSTEOPOROSIS
There are two supplements that have been shown to be effective in the treatment of osteoporosis. The first one is called ipriflavone and the other is called strontium. Both of these supplements have been shown to increase bone density in people taking them.
Ipriflavone
In most double-blind placebo-controlled studies of Ipriflavone, involving a total of over 1700 enrolled subjects, results demonstrated either a significant bone sparing effect or improvements in bone mineral density measured at the radius, whole body, or vertebra. In studies that ranged from six months to two years bone mineral density in the Ipriflavone groups increased from 0.7% to 7.1% over the course of the studies. In comparison, the placebo groups had losses as high as 5%. The dosage of Ipriflavone used was 200 mg daily plus 1 g of supplemental calcium.
In other studies looking at the rate of fractures Ipriflavone again showed significant effects. In one study there was a 50% reduction in the rate of new vertebral fractures in the first year of Ipriflavone treatment.
For the most part, all of the studies of Ipriflavone have been positive. In a very recent study Ipriflavone did not show any benefit. The explanation of this result may be that the trial group did not take sufficient calcium. In the previous studies, all of the participants took 1 g of supplemental calcium but in this study participants took just half of the amount.
Generally, Ipriflavone is well tolerated by people, although mild gastrointestinal distress can occur. In certain individuals with low white blood count numbers or immunosuppressed systems may want to avoid taking Ipriflavone. Similar to Grapefruit, Ipriflavone may cause an increase in the blood levels of certain medications. So if you are taking medication that says to avoid grapefruit you should maybe avoid taking Ipriflavone. In general, Ipriflavone can be used by the majority of people who are experiencing osteoporosis or want to maintain good bone density.
You can read a monograph on the Ipriflavone at the following site:
http://www.vitalnutrients.net/research.htm
Strontium
The patent medicine osteoporosis remedy that kills bone cells—and the all-natural alternatives that save them.
This article is by Dr. Jonathan Wright, MD
A few months ago at the Tahoma Clinic I visited with a man—let’s call him Derek—who had been diagnosed with early osteoporosis. He had heard of the connection between good testosterone levels and healthy bones, and he wanted to have his levels checked to see if he should try supplementing with this hormone.
Derek’s regular medical doctor, a member of an insurance company preferred provider network, told him he should take Boniva, a “biphosphonate” patent medication. A two-year double-blind, placebo-controlled “prevention” study had shown that Boniva increases bone density in post-menopausal women by approximately 3 percent in the spine, and approximately 2 percent at the hip. A similar three-year treatment study had shown a very significant reduction in new vertebral fractures. Derek had done some basic Internet research and had found that millions of Americans were using biphosphonates for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis.
Unfortunately, Boniva also kills certain bone cells.
I read the following excerpt to him from an information bulletin on the product: “Boniva is a biphosphonate, a metabolic poison that kills the osteoclast bone cells that help create the balance between bone resorption and bone building, thus forcing an increase in bone mass.” I skipped to the side effects section, which included the following: “dyspepsia [heartburn, indigestion, stomach pain], diarrhea, tooth disorder, vomiting, gastritis, infection, and allergic reaction.”
Derek was alarmed when he found out the truth, and I’m sure many of you are feeling the same—especially if you’re taking Boniva.
But you may be wondering, as Derek did, if testosterone and calcium are enough to improve your bone health. I told him I would certainly recommend testosterone if his tests showed the need. But there are other effective options for improving your bone health that don’t require hormonal therapy. In fact, the people I’ve worked with have experienced between 3 and 11 percent improvement in bone density in just one year by using calcium, strontium, vitamin D, and a variety of other nutrients.
The mineral that can make calcium even more effective
Taking strontium in addition to calcium is more effective than calcium alone. Numerous studies have demonstrated that strontium does much more than slow the deterioration of your bones—it actually stimulates rapid bone formation. A 2004 double-blind, placebo controlled study published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that a combination of strontium ranelate, calcium, and vitamin D increased bone density by 9 to 15 percent over three years.1 Research conducted in the 80s by one of the same researchers showed under-the-microscope improvement in bone density with strontium carbonate and calcium. And research done at the Mayo Clinic in the 50s showed both clinical and x-ray improvement with a third form of strontium.
For best results, I also recommend having a gastric analysis. Twenty years of tests done at the Tahoma Clinic have shown that 90 percent of individuals with osteoporosis have low stomach acid. If your stomach acid is low, your body won’t be able to absorb calcium, strontium, and other minerals nearly as well, and your results won’t be as good.
You can take these and other bone- building nutrients separately, or all together in one bone-building combination formula. If you take them separately, be sure to always use at least twice as much calcium as strontium. Because some leading researchers state that calcium and strontium mutually inhibit each other’s absorption, either calcium or strontium should be taken in the morning and the other taken at night.
Citations available upon request and on the Nutrition & Healing website: www.wrightnewsletter.com
Other nutrients
One of the most important nutrients involved with bone health is Vitamin D
Many people don’t get enough Vitamin D. You may need to reexamine your Vitamin D intake to make sure you get at least 1000 Units a day The following link is to an article on Vitamin D. You can also do a search for Vitamin D at this site to learn more.
http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20050430/food.asp
Other important nutrients include Vitamin K, boron, and vanadium. If you are taking a high quality multi-vitamin these should be in the formula.
You should be taking a high quality multi-vitamin!!!!