Strontium citrate (Algaecal) and fractures

@lightlifts I understand. I was not making any recommendations, simply quoting research material.
I am also not saying AlgaeCal and related products are not bad - simply that they have not been subjected to scientific testing. All reports are anecdotal.

@sueinmn Be careful taking Melatonin if you are on blood thinners. My internist was furious when we found that out the hard way. The drug rep apparently didn't have that info.

@vagirl57 please explain

I was having trouble sleeping. My internist recommended melatonin. The drug rep had mentioned to the doctor that it was a natural product, no side effects. I am on blood thinner. When I had my blood test, it was way too thin. The melatonin had caused it. My doctor was angry that this happened. Just be careful with it.

@vagirl57
Thanks for pointing this out. I forgot where I read about using caution with melatonin if on Eliquis (a popular anticoagulant) but recall that I did. I found this one citation now:
https://hellopharmacist.com/drug-supplement-interactions/drug-herbal/melatonin-with-apixaban
If our health histories become more complicated requiring prescriptions, it's wise to check for possible drug-drug AND drug-food interactions. For example, I learned that while taking kisqali for breast cancer, I need to be careful with pomegranates. I've known about grapefruit and grapefruit juice but pomegranates was unexpected.

@blueberre This study does not prove that melatonin use increases heart failure, just noted an association. It includes this important statement:

"The study has several limitations. First, the database includes countries that require a prescription for melatonin (such as the United Kingdom) and countries that don’t (such as the United States), and patient locations were not part of the de-identified data available to the researchers. Since melatonin use in the study was based only on those identified from medication entries in the electronic health record, everyone taking it as an over-the-counter supplement in the U.S. or other countries that don’t require a prescription would have been in the non-melatonin group; therefore, the analyses may not accurately reflect this. Hospitalization figures were also higher than those for initial diagnosis of heart failure because a range of related diagnostic codes may be entered for the hospitalization, and they may not always include the code for a new diagnosis of heart failure. The researchers also lacked information on the severity of insomnia and the presence of other psychiatric disorders.

“Worse insomnia, depression/anxiety or the use of other sleep-enhancing medicines might be linked to both melatonin use and heart risk,” Nnadi said. “Also, while the association we found raises safety concerns about the widely used supplement, our study cannot prove a direct cause-and-effect relationship. This means more research is needed to test melatonin’s safety for the heart.”

A posting about strontium and its reduction on fractures.
https://www.inspire.com/groups/bone-health-and-osteoporosis/discussion/strontium-does-it-prevent-fractures-research-articles-personal-stories/
Strontium via ranelate significantly reduces vertebral fracture risk in postmenopausal osteoporosis, showing about a 49% lower risk in the first year and around 41% over three years, with similar efficacy for non-vertebral fractures (around 16-19% reduction over three years), especially a 36% reduction in hip fractures in high-risk patients. It works by increasing bone mineral density and promoting bone formation while decreasing resorption, with benefits maintained over time.
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa022436
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15728210/.

@prarysky I've been on Warfarin (Coumadin) for many years. I also found out the hard way that Acetaminophen doesn't work well with Warfarin either. We have to keep on our toes. I appreciate all the good links that are posted here.

@kathleen1314 Any studies on Stontium Citrate as Strontium Ranelate is not used anymore?

@vagirl57 I am confused about why a drug rep might tell your doctor that melatonin is a natural product with no side effects. Melatonin is over the counter. Were you being prescribed melatonin?