1. < Osteoporosis & Bone Health

Improve bone density and strength without medication?

Posted by plav @plav, Dec 20, 2023

Any luck improving bone density and strength without medication? It seems the medications only mildly help ... and they only help some patients; some studies show the slight improvement in density does not mean quality bone was built. I'm not comfortable with moving forward with the treatments just because "that's what we give patients with osteoporosis". There seems to be no room for education or discussion, or research into actual results or other options.

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lindabp | @lindabp | Jun 2 2:05pm
In reply to @windyshores "The book is "great Bones." I can't understand why your docs are saying no K with..." + (show)
@windyshores

The book is "great Bones."

I can't understand why your docs are saying no K with Eliquis. Maybe they can show you their sources for that info.

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I think they are connecting the Vit K with the bleeding problems I'm having with the blood thinner, I get conflicting advice. One doc says Vit K keeps calcium supplement from going to arteries (I have some calcium lining in arteries) Another says it can cause more bleeding. I'm scared of going off the blood thinner because of stroke. I feel I get so much conflicting medical advice. My PCP just refers everything not normal to specialists, so I have about 4 specialists for different conditions, with no one to watch the overall picture. I think worry about all this is causing a lot of the anxiety and depression I have. I'm on an antidepressant (bupropion) that I think from research also contributes to my heart rhythm problems, but my provider for that doesn't help with understanding what would help (I have had intolerances with several other antidepressants so she thinks this is best. I just feel confused and scared all the time. It helps to get feedback from others here who also have some of these problems. Thank you!

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bruceandruth1970 | @bruceandruth1970 | Jun 2 5:45pm
In reply to @ndiener "I have never seen this brand. Do you find it in a regular grocery store? I..." + (show)
@ndiener

I have never seen this brand. Do you find it in a regular grocery store? I will be looking. Thanks

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Yes, I get the plain 2% at Walmart and Publix. There is also a vanilla that has 325mg for 3/4 cip.

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bocabird | @bocabird | Jun 3 10:44am

Publix Florida has it.

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bocabird | @bocabird | Jun 3 11:01am
In reply to @greencup "My friend, who is a neurologist, was diagnosed with osteoporosis and hesitant to start medication. So..." + (show)
@greencup

My friend, who is a neurologist, was diagnosed with osteoporosis and hesitant to start medication. So when I received my own diagnosis about a year ago, and was told medications are the way to go, I also looked into alternative ways to manage my osteoporosis. I was already exercising with weights. I started the 12 minute yoga for osteoporosis by Fishman, added a third day of weights to my weekly exercises, started regular calcium and vitamin D, joined the Bone Coach program. The bone coach program requires a lot of time, and I don’t have that now since I’m working full-time. I also started Fortibone about a month ago. I’ll have another bone scan in about eight months. I’ll also do the bone coach program after I retire in the middle of 2024. Takes a lot of time to hunt down and understand the pros and cons of the methods of recourse. That’s one reason why I joined this support group.

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How are you doing without medication? I wrote a Prolia post today with all the terrible side effects I got.

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trixiegirl | @trixiegirl | Jun 3 11:54am
In reply to @bettersleep68 "I am getting off calcium supplements..they have too much extra stuff added. I was doing jarrow..." + (show)
@bettersleep68

I am getting off calcium supplements..they have too much extra stuff added. I was doing jarrow and started having heart palpitations. I think they put ingredients into the supplement that we are not aware of and causes harm . I do have osteoporosis and will increase my calcium with food and exercise...hopefully my results will stay the same on dexa

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Dr. Doug Lucas just did a review of his 2024 pick for calcium supplementation. I know his ambitions and desire to have a profitable business put people off (myself included) but I do think he does good research and interpretation of studies. He has a strong background and is passionate about helping people with osteoporosis. I am going to try his recommendation for calcium supplement. https://youtu.be/L9gw8wB5Loo?si=6GfTMXE2jKXgSFHR

His rationale for choosing this particular supplement makes good sense to me as I agree that our bodies do best when we can as much as we can of what we need through food .

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1 reply
njhornung | @normahorn | Jun 3 12:32pm

Unless algaecal contains dry, pulverized algae, the calcium is extracted in some manner. That processing changes the form. Ashing would convert it to calcium carbonate. Or it may be precipated from a solution as a citrate, etc.

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glojo (Gloria) | @glojo | Jun 3 12:44pm
In reply to @trixiegirl "Dr. Doug Lucas just did a review of his 2024 pick for calcium supplementation. I know..." + (show)
@trixiegirl

Dr. Doug Lucas just did a review of his 2024 pick for calcium supplementation. I know his ambitions and desire to have a profitable business put people off (myself included) but I do think he does good research and interpretation of studies. He has a strong background and is passionate about helping people with osteoporosis. I am going to try his recommendation for calcium supplement. https://youtu.be/L9gw8wB5Loo?si=6GfTMXE2jKXgSFHR

His rationale for choosing this particular supplement makes good sense to me as I agree that our bodies do best when we can as much as we can of what we need through food .

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I’m not going to rush out and buy these products. First of all, I like to separate D from K fat soluble vitamins, so they don’t compete, and also calcium and magnesium for same reason. I also chose MK4 because that’s what has been used for years in Japan, and the MK7 caused me to have palpitations. I’m seriously considering strontium citrate, but just haven’t been brave enough yet to start, but I would also separate that from calcium. It is encouraging to hear Lucas speak positively about it though. Am I taking capsules all day….yeah, pretty much, but if I have a reaction to anything, it’s easier to control it that way. As for the trace minerals like copper, manganese, boron, I think those are attainable through diet…nuts, in particular. If I’m not mistaken, most of the research that Algaecal touts is their own, which I find suspect. It might be fine, and I could be way off base here, but just my two cents worth.

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trixiegirl | @trixiegirl | Jun 3 6:06pm
In reply to @cpd54 "My scores are like yours. But I haven’t had a fracture. I’ve had 3 doctors tell..." + (show)
@cpd54

My scores are like yours. But I haven’t had a fracture. I’ve had 3 doctors tell me not to take drugs, an orthopedic surgeon, a functional medicine doctor and my dentist. My planned course of action is for 2 years try to do everything possible to up my scores without meds. Then have another dexa and see. My daily supplements are recommended by my FMD. Calcium citrate or malate- 1000 mg daily( I take Osteo-K by NBI), D3 5000 IU (I was significantly low), a B complex, Magnesium 2:1 ratio to calcium (I take citrate and glycinate), Vit K2 (I’ve done a lot if research on this one. FMD said up to 45 mg. That’s MK4. There is also MK7 that I take every other day at 182 mcg.), Boron 3 mg, Copper .9mg, Zinc 15 mg , Manganese- 1.8-23 mg, selenium 55 mcg. A lot of these I get with my multi vitamin.
She also recommended yoga, fast walking, stomping and whole body vibration for exercise.
You will find TONS of info and opinions about osteoporosis when you start researching. To me, you do what s best for you based on your health and comfort. I’m not comfortable taking the drugs. I’ll reassess after my next Dexa. Also there are other tests, P1NP and CTX, you can do to determine the action of your bone building.
I would suggest reading Dr Keith McCormicks books as well as Vitamin K2 and the Calcium Paradox by Kate Rheaume-Bleue. Also I’ve just started watching Dr Doug Lucas on YouTube.
Good luck in your journey.

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Dear cpd54 I am wondering if you are still active and if so how are you progressing? I hope things are going well. I’m new at all this and very thankful for this group.

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trixiegirl | @trixiegirl | Jun 3 6:10pm
In reply to @normahorn "Unless algaecal contains dry, pulverized algae, the calcium is extracted in some manner. That processing changes..." + (show)
@normahorn

Unless algaecal contains dry, pulverized algae, the calcium is extracted in some manner. That processing changes the form. Ashing would convert it to calcium carbonate. Or it may be precipated from a solution as a citrate, etc.

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Norma: If you have time, listen to the podcast. I think you have a better handle on the chemistry than I do. I would be interested to know what you think of his explanation. My impression is it is available as a whole food in the algae along with other micronutrients. Then again wording can be tricky. Thank you for your words of caution.

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trixiegirl | @trixiegirl | Jun 3 6:11pm

The podcast is a shorter one and he talks about the AlgaeCal first thing.

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