Anyone else doing OsteoStrong and AlgaeCal with Strontium?

Posted by karenolivia47 @karenolivia47, Sep 6, 2025

I had three doses of Fosamax in June, 2024. After the third dose I developed ilial tibial band syndrome--probably the worst pain I've had since childbirth! Mercifully, it disappeared soon after and I never took another dose. In researching non-drug options I came across OsteoStrong and AlgaeCal with Strontium. I started both about 15 months ago. In May, 2024 my lumbar spine was -4.1. Now it is -2.9. Left hip has improved from -2.6 to -2.0--in 15 months. My endocrinologist is STILL pushing Reclast! I'd appreciate thoughts from you all, please.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Osteoporosis & Bone Health Support Group.

I wanted to chime in here and give you another option of calcium. I take Nature’s Way Alive Calcium. It’s 1,200mg plant Source. I needed more calcium then AlgaeCal offer.

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I recommend taking Algae Cal half doses of the "Algae Cal +" combined with Costco’s Kirkland Mature Multi and, maybe most importantly, some amount of Algae Cal Strontium Supplement. Take a full dose of Strontium (well away from Calcium of any amount) if you have osteoporosis and half doses otherwise. I think Strontium is key, and I don’t know of any other place to get it. It’s hard to get in diet as it depends on rare availability in certain soils. I have osteopenia with a family history of osteoporosis (my mother would break if you turned her over in the nursing home). I did a ton of research on bone health before discovering Algae Cal, and Algae Call has it all! It’s worth it to take some, augmented with cheaper calcium and multi’s. Costco’s Mature Multi has a wide variety of what you need, is in expensive, and most importantly all of the Kirkland brand supplements I’ve tested break down easily, while many others don’t. To test, put a pill in a glass of ordinary vinegar. If it breaks down easily in vinegar, it will break down quickly in stomach acid. If it doesn’t, don’t bother buying or taking. Pills that don’t break down are just pooped out of your body, useless. To your good health!

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Profile picture for annearm @annearm

My numbers are similar to yours . I am doing Algaecal with out strontium. I also had a REMS Scan done recently and my bone quality it quite good. I won't do bisphosphates but instead I do BHRT. Im on the Wylie protocol. I have a trainer and do resistance training three times a week and also tai chi three times. I walk daily. I have a Marodyne low intensity vibration plate that I use twice daily. My diet is very strict. I also take MK4, Fortibone and a pea protein powder. I have done a four day saliva test along with extensive blood work. I'm trying to cover all the bases. Heel drops every day are part of my routine along with vigorous jumping three times weekly. Meditation is very important.

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Hi - what is the 4 day saliva test for? I am also not doing meds for my OP so I’m always interested in finding out what works well for people. When did you get diagnosed? How low are your tscores? Have you had a new DExA since starting your new routines?

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Profile picture for again @again

I recommend taking Algae Cal half doses of the "Algae Cal +" combined with Costco’s Kirkland Mature Multi and, maybe most importantly, some amount of Algae Cal Strontium Supplement. Take a full dose of Strontium (well away from Calcium of any amount) if you have osteoporosis and half doses otherwise. I think Strontium is key, and I don’t know of any other place to get it. It’s hard to get in diet as it depends on rare availability in certain soils. I have osteopenia with a family history of osteoporosis (my mother would break if you turned her over in the nursing home). I did a ton of research on bone health before discovering Algae Cal, and Algae Call has it all! It’s worth it to take some, augmented with cheaper calcium and multi’s. Costco’s Mature Multi has a wide variety of what you need, is in expensive, and most importantly all of the Kirkland brand supplements I’ve tested break down easily, while many others don’t. To test, put a pill in a glass of ordinary vinegar. If it breaks down easily in vinegar, it will break down quickly in stomach acid. If it doesn’t, don’t bother buying or taking. Pills that don’t break down are just pooped out of your body, useless. To your good health!

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Strontium Citrate is available inexpensively from VitaCost, Swanson & other companies at the same recommended dose of 680 mg daily taken at least 2-hrs away from calcium in order not to compete. There are so many success stories on the forum Inspire.com.

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Karen Olivia 47th,
May I ask what decade of life you are in (or your age)?
I can't imagine those supps doing anything better than providing stable T-scores (not getting worse) for someone at my age, which is 70.

Also, I wonder what the medical reason is to take a medicine right now (that is not zero risk) if your T-score is going in the right direction?
Thanks!

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Profile picture for researchmaven @researchmaven

Karen Olivia 47th,
May I ask what decade of life you are in (or your age)?
I can't imagine those supps doing anything better than providing stable T-scores (not getting worse) for someone at my age, which is 70.

Also, I wonder what the medical reason is to take a medicine right now (that is not zero risk) if your T-score is going in the right direction?
Thanks!

Jump to this post

Hi researchmaven!
I'm 78. I was wondering the same thing. I spent the whole weekend researching Reclast--research studies and anecdotal stories from patients. It was rather terrifying. In the end I sent my endocrinologist a polite note declining the Reclast. She didn't blink an eye and said essentially "fine." Told her at my age there are myriad aches and pains and I didn't need to purposefully add to it. At my OsteoStrong session this morning one of the gals was telling me about another woman in the group who took Reclast and was confined to bed for a week with aches and pains. Yikes!

REPLY
Profile picture for again @again

I recommend taking Algae Cal half doses of the "Algae Cal +" combined with Costco’s Kirkland Mature Multi and, maybe most importantly, some amount of Algae Cal Strontium Supplement. Take a full dose of Strontium (well away from Calcium of any amount) if you have osteoporosis and half doses otherwise. I think Strontium is key, and I don’t know of any other place to get it. It’s hard to get in diet as it depends on rare availability in certain soils. I have osteopenia with a family history of osteoporosis (my mother would break if you turned her over in the nursing home). I did a ton of research on bone health before discovering Algae Cal, and Algae Call has it all! It’s worth it to take some, augmented with cheaper calcium and multi’s. Costco’s Mature Multi has a wide variety of what you need, is in expensive, and most importantly all of the Kirkland brand supplements I’ve tested break down easily, while many others don’t. To test, put a pill in a glass of ordinary vinegar. If it breaks down easily in vinegar, it will break down quickly in stomach acid. If it doesn’t, don’t bother buying or taking. Pills that don’t break down are just pooped out of your body, useless. To your good health!

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this is so interesting to me because Algae Cal is actually my main source non food calcium but my Evenity pushing dr (so far resisting) scared me off strontium after my first bottle. Said "I wouldn't put heavy chemicals in my body." For now I'm also doing something besides Algae Cal - ran out and didn't want to go w/out for a week so bought something at this great vitamin store we have locally -- Jarrow Bone UP

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Also want to say I am happy to see your scores improve (this is to the first writer, my other comment was to the person who talked about necessity of strontium)

Anyway I am resisting Evenity although most of my friends succumbed to Reclast That sounds a little less scary And pushing is def the word for what these doctors do

Interesting to see you're doing Osteo Strong Margaret Martin seems to think those are too intense, she pushes that Marodyne. I was ready to order, then read something quite depressing on substack by this ortho - not an osteoporosis doc - I've been following on twitter for years. He says NOTHING really works except LIFTMOR/Onero (he doesn't mention the second name) level exercises and gives a very thorough breakdown on why. I was like "no wonder my scores got worse even tho I wear a weighted vest and did go to a PT" (but only got up to 25 pounds. The nearest PT who offers Onero is an hour and a half away from me. I think i'm going to try to get up to 45 pounds, maybe w a personal trainer or PT up here , and then go down so i don't have all that commuting while building strength. Oh, what this guy says about jumping is also interesting. https://howardluksmd.substack.com/p/osteoporosis-prevention-and-treatment

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Recently, i checked with Consumer Labs and they rated New Chapter as a very good alternative to AlgaeCalPlus, which is very expensive. You can get it in TinyTabs (6per day), easy to swallow and you could adjust the dosage if you wish. It is organic, plant-based and 3rd party tested… it does contain a minimum amount of strontium..there is a fee for using Consumer Labs— for me worth it…ll.. this supplement is available at Amazon.

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As always, I suggest that each of us do their own research, to feel comfortable with our own choices… and am always open to suggestions from some terrific people on this message board.

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