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DiscussionSupplements for bone health: What is safe?
Osteoporosis & Bone Health | Last Active: 6 hours ago | Replies (78)Comment receiving replies
Replies to "Looking to increase bone density naturally. Went to a few endocrinologists each with different medications they..."
Rose, with what kind of situation are you dealing? Tscores? Fractures? Have you seen an endocrinologist who has ruled out other conditions or diseases. Without knowing these answers it is difficult to talk about natural supplements.
But...
Here is a short list of the usual suspects taken for bone health: Vit k2, calcium, magnesium, collagen, silicon, maybe boron etc.
Weight bearing exercise.
BHRT, bioidentical hormone therapy which is identical to your own bodies' hormones, chemically.
And then the supplement that straddles the line between drug and supplements, strontium citrate.
I am a strontium citrate user and a BHRT user. I have gone from osteoporosis to "normal" bone density and normal bone quality (TBS) , all without fractures or side effects.
Do some research on Creatine, it seems to build bone mass and bone strength. body builders use it. I am thinking of trying it myself.
Rose,
All strontium is the same strontium. What differs is the government regulation, the price and the additives in the product.
AOr has the best government regulation in Canada and the fewest additives. Vitacost has a good price point and easier to obtain than the AOR from Canada. I have taken both AOR and Vitacost.
Blood clots....no I am not concerned. This is why,,,, no research on strontium citrate has ever shown any cardio problems. Plus,,,,,The single research that talked about bloot clots was a population study on strontium ranelate, with the additives of ranelate and aspartame, problems of their own.
Plus...
That one population study which found strontium ranelate with cardio problems was a population study with no control group and included participants with existing heart problems which is usually considered as a contraindication in most research within the type of context.
So in an older population with lots of heart problems the population study found, viola, heart problems. The medical community in Europe was concerned enough that they performed several other population studies but used a control to eliminate those with existing cardio problems. The study in Denmark, 2005-2011 found no cardio problems. Subsequent research duplicated this finding of no cardio problems arising from use of strontium ranelate.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24651624/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24322476/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20553059/
etc. etc..
Many doctors and research groups now consider that one study that showed cardio problems, among people who had existing cardio problems, as an outlier, and I saw one report with the word "flawed" being used. I do not view it quite that way since good information was given in that population study which led to better and more precise research. I do find it upsetting that the study showing cardio concerns is used so much by people on the internet who want to stop the use of strontium, all without ever mentioning the follow up studies that found no cardio correlation; I am afraid that money may play a role in this; supplements after all are not a big money generator for anyone. But the information and studies are there for the finding and now easily found with the search tools to which we all have access.
I would personally never take strontium ranelate, but this is moot because it is not available in the USA. Strontium citrate is available and has never been linked in research or use or population studies to cardio events.
Also, bear in mind that several osteoporosis pharma medications are associated with potential cardiovascular side effects, most notably Evenity, which carries a warning for increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death. Other osteoporosis drugs with reported cardiovascular risks include Prolia with atrial fibrillation and Forteo with reported side effects of dizziness/fast heart rate.
Most drugs and supplements have some type of side effects. Water if overused can actually cause death.
So we have to analyze and decide what is best for us. That is hard to do when you are scared and shaken. I have taken drugs which I regret, and I now take my husband with me to appointments to have his ear, memory and his instruction for me to say "let me consider that recommendation, before I take it, thank you". I do this because I know that I am not at my best when I am stressed and in pain. Most of us have this problem.
Plus, deciding what treatment you want to use for your osteoporosis is a very personal decision and made up in large part to our emotions and what makes us feel safe. There are lots of good osteoporosis drugs that work well for most people.
I celebrate anyone's good news; We are in this together.
Here are supplements I take:
Vitamin K (as others have mentioned above). I used to take 45mcg Vitamin K2 with my calcium, but have increased the form and dose based on this article, and others that I've read: https://betterbones.com/bone-health-basics/vitamin-k2-mk7-vs-mk4/
I'm sorry Vit K is upsetting your stomach. Maybe if you take it with food it would help.
I found two K2 MK7 supplements on Amazon and ordered both. Not sure which one I'll stick with, I'm alternating them now. One is Sports Research Vitamin K2 MK7 180mcg with Coconut Oil. It sources its K2 as Menaquinone-7 (MK7) from fermented chickpeas rather than from MenaQ7, which is a specific branded form. This is a gel capsule with liquid contents.
The other supplement is from True Vantage and contains 180mcg of that vitamin as "MenaQ7". I read that "MenaQ7" supplements are considered superior because "they contain a highly purified form of vitamin K2 as MK-7, which has been clinically validated for its benefits in supporting bone and cardiovascular health. Their production process ensures a high concentration of the bioactive all-trans form, making them more effective than other vitamin K2 supplements." This is in a capsule form with powdered contents. The TrueVantage brand that I ordered with MenaQ7 is made in the U.S. and 3rd party tested.
Collagen as Fortibone: I take a daily powdered collagen supplement that contains Fortibone, which has been shown in studies to help bones. The cheapest brand I found on Amazon is AlgaeCal brand. It's cheaper if you buy two or three at a time. I make a smoothie with it along with some juice, banana, and other fruit.
Protein powder: Protein is important for your bones and I take a supplement since I probably don't get enough in my diet. I found one that tastes lime foamy lemonade. It's Oath Clear Protein and I prefer the lemonade flavor.
Prunes: Studies have shown that eating 6 prunes a day can help bones.
Magnesium is also important, so I take 300mg of magnesium glycinate/day.
Of course, I also take calcium, vitamin D, as well as C, B complex and fish oil capsules.
Exercise: I try and walk every day and am just starting an excercise program by Dr Lisa Moore, a PT who specializes in osteoporosis. Her videos are free on YouTube. She has a Facebook group page called Brick House Bones.
Hi, have you found the Creatine helpful. Have you felt less fatigue and better energy?
I know this site is for sharing experiences but I also wonder if the mods review some of this. I would just like to remind people NOT to start a supplement without first talking to your doctor and your pharmacist. Some supplements can be contraindicated in people’s healthcare and medications. People have specific health conditions that certain supplements and doses can be contraindicated! Please get medical advice first.
@kobebeef2026 For those of you taking Collagen Peptides or Creatine, an you share the brands? Thank you.
Perhaps someone can add information about the safety of using collagen if you have estrogen-positive breast cancer. There are a lot of recommendations to add collagen to our diets when we are trying to build bone health, and lord knows, I'd love to try it too. But I seem to recall attending an online presentation by a nutritionist who works with breast cancer patients and she cautioned those of us with breast cancer to be cautious about using collagen. It may fall into that unwelcome category of avoiding supplements that could encourage breast cancer growth even if it might also offer healthier goals, such as building bone.
She did not say definitively do not take collagen but she clearly was wary of it. Interestingly, though, she said there was some promising research in the use of creatine even if you had breast cancer.
I haven't pursued looking into this one yet, but thought maybe others have.
I've been using Collagen Peptides by Algecal
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If you go back to the main category Osteoporosis you will see beneath that a variety of subheadings. You will find additional info on this topic