Confused by doctor options to choose, including Keith McCormick

For those with experience with Dr Keith McCormick, is anyone taking his osteo-stim or osteo-sustain vitamins? Any information on safety, effectiveness or side effects?
Thanks.

I used to take them. The Sustain is basically a calcium/D/K vitamin. The Stim is that, plus some other supplements that he says have been shown to promote bone health. He describes them in his book.

There is nothing dangerous, and he doesn't use megadoses of anything. I just decided I'd rather do calcium/K/D on my own, especially getting calcium from food as much as possible. Also, it's cheaper!

Another reason is that a pill may contain something that you're already getting from food. It's good to remember that the pill is not the only source.

Thanks @njx58 for your response. I have been taking Thorne advanced bone support. I still have another 5 months before my next dexa scan. I took K2 separately for a while, but I think it was giving me joint pain. I just finished the Thorne and thought I would switch to osteo-sustain. On the ingredients for osteo-stim is N-Acetyl cysteine. There seem to be mixed info on that, used to be prescription only. I do take his fortibone collagen and have not had any issues with it. I think I will try “sustain”, not sure about “stim”. I agree about getting what we need from food. I try to take that into account when taking supplements. Thanks.

I haven't heard of K2 causing joint pain. I take K2-MK4. I've read anecdotal stories of some people having side effects with the MK7 type. I've been using MK4 for two years with no issues.

@stacibw I see an endocrinologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. I was referred to endocrinology after a sacral fracture was detected by CT (I get CT scans for cancer surveillance and so the sacral fracture was an incidental finding. The sacral fracture was likely due to pelvic radiation I had for endometrial cancer). I had a referral to endocrinology and it took a few months to get an appointment. The endocrinologist and his team spent an hour with me during my first visit for the assessment. He ordered labs, and a DEXA scan and took a very complete history. When I returned for my next visit a month later he went through the findings and said that I was optimizing everything I could for osteoporosis however the fracture put me into another category altogether. He explained, with a drawing, what osteoporosis is and how medications work on bone. He recommended that I start with 12 months of Evenity. He told me that Evenity "builds bone" and I agreed to do that and so I've had 6 months of the injections. After the 12 months my endocrinologist will order more labs and a bone density scan and we shall see what he recommends next. I may go on another medication that will "lock in my gains".

I've been active all my life. I'm now 72-years-old and started lifting weights when I was in late 30's. I still lift weights, I walk, hike, x-country ski (when we have snow) and do yoga. My mother had osteoporosis and was very frail by my age with multiple compression fractures. I don't want to have that life so decided to follow my endocrinologist's recommendations.

I'm hoping you will be pleased with the time and attention you will receive at Mayo Clinic. The decision of what to do will be left up to you.

I have an appointment with Dr. McCormick on 5/15. I can't wait. My endocrinologist was only interested in giving me Fosamax. My primary sided with her. She (endo) never even asked me anything about me. I'm a yoga teacher and have been doing cardo and weights since my early 20's. I am 67. I have been very disillusioned for sure. Overwhelmed. I came across Dr. Mccormick, and I like that he will send you for lots of lab tests if you require them. Nothing even close to the medical profession (from my experience). He has a very good reputation so hoping to start to make progress. I commend you for getting that appointment with Mayo Clinic. Can I ask where you started with them to obtain that appointment or did you just call them? I wish you success in your endeavor and July will be here before you know it! You've made progress already just be getting that appointment!

I used to take them. The Sustain is basically a calcium/D/K vitamin. The Stim is that, plus some other supplements that he says have been shown to promote bone health. He describes them in his book.

There is nothing dangerous, and he doesn't use megadoses of anything. I just decided I'd rather do calcium/K/D on my own, especially getting calcium from food as much as possible. Also, it's cheaper!

Another reason is that a pill may contain something that you're already getting from food. It's good to remember that the pill is not the only source.

Your response is very logical and makes good points. I agree with you.

In addition may "doctors" - and K. McCormick is a chiropractic "doctor": who has financial gain by selling his own "special" recommended vitamins.

He is not an endocrinologist or even a physician. He has an interest in osteoporosis because he has had many fractures from some medical/personal issue. As he is a runner, it may be that he is too thin and that caused his osteoporosis? Who knows.

He did go to Stanford, though, so he has that going for him...but perhaps he couldn't get into medical school and did Chiropractic as an alternative, many wanna be docs do that as it is a easier route.

Personally: if I needed Vitamin K and Vitamin D or anything else to strengthen my bones, that wasn't prescription based, I would go to a compounding pharmacist. Or like you, just use diet and or vitamins one can find in Walmart's vitamin shelves.

I would use a compounding pharmacist who would consult with a good endocrinologist. That would be a solid medical team if one wanted to self treat.

The problem with vitamins from ANY place is that they are not FDA approved in most cases and they are questionable as to quality, especially from some foreign countries who profit from copying, but not quite having good quality control or legal standards for supplements?