Supplements for bone health: What is safe?

Posted by sue417 @sue417, May 24, 2025

Hi
I fractured in 2022 my t8 Rolling over in bed. Started reclast once a yr. Spine t score improved -1.3. . In 2024 had breast cancer lumpectomy DCIS hormone pos stage 0.
There was a microscopic break in one of my milk ducts. Did 20 rounds radiation. Apr 18 2025 my t9 and t10 compression fractures. The doctor wants to start me on forteo for 24mths. I know one of the side effects of this medication is bone cancer.Has anyone used forteo that has been through breast cancer. I don't know what to do. Should I stay on the reclass . I have had it for 3 yrs. I am supposed to have another one june 24th. Or do I just keep doing my bone supplements and stop drugs altogether. 🤔

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

Profile picture for mcchesney @kathleen1314

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.

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@kathleen1314 Did your doctor mention any relation to breast cancer and BHRT? I’m avoiding this approach due to what hormone therapy did to my mother. Keep in mind that her treatments were in the late 70s - much different from today. However I’m still apprehensive.

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Profile picture for rose140 @rose140

Looking to increase bone density naturally. Went to a few endocrinologists each with different medications they want to out me on and vaguely discussing side effects. Just pushed he medication
I don’t feel comfortable with these medications. I am taking vitamin d and k calcium upsets my stomach. So many advertisements for products. I would appreciate guidance
Thank you

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@kobebeef2026 For those of you taking Collagen Peptides or Creatine, an you share the brands? Thank you.

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Profile picture for tiny28 @tiny28

@gravity3 I am 75 . Bad dexa scores . Just had a spinal fusion at L4/5 anterior approach so major op. My professor surgeon said my bones although small were strong. I only take vit D small calcium tablet. Magnesium and a daily dose of pure fortibone . My diet is very good but I cannot tolerate much dairy . It’s working so far . My exercise at moment is limited due to my recovery . However I would like to pass this on to anyone else who is scared of the osteoporosis drugs on market to give them hope .

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@tiny28 Have you had any side effects with Fortibone? How are you spacing your supplement intake?

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Profile picture for pmhpesp5 @pmhpesp5

@tiny28 Have you had any side effects with Fortibone? How are you spacing your supplement intake?

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@pmhpesp5 absolutely no side effects it’s natural. Company called Bone Balance in the UK. Vitamin D daily .

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Profile picture for pmhpesp5 @pmhpesp5

@kobebeef2026 For those of you taking Collagen Peptides or Creatine, an you share the brands? Thank you.

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@pmhpesp5 I was taking OsteoCollagen-Pep with Fortibone until recently. I took it for about 18 months. No issues whatsoever. I stirred it into my coffee in the morning.

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Profile picture for pmhpesp5 @pmhpesp5

@kathleen1314 Did your doctor mention any relation to breast cancer and BHRT? I’m avoiding this approach due to what hormone therapy did to my mother. Keep in mind that her treatments were in the late 70s - much different from today. However I’m still apprehensive.

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@pmhpesp5
Yes, in the 70s progestin was used by many women, and progestin is tied tightly to breast cancer and cardio problems. Indeed, there is more risk of breast cancer with progestins plus estrogen than with estrogen alone. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC117494/

My doctor uses bioidentical progesterone to offset any problems with breast overstimulation.
The largest population study ever done showed only one group with 0% increase in breast cancer; that was the group that used a bioidentical progesterone.

A list of studies about breast cancer and hormones:
below is an article with footnotes and citations about estrogen, breast cancer and progesterone citing the 0% risk above
https://cemcor.ubc.ca/resources/does-taking-progesterone-alone-or-estrogen-increase-womens-risk-breast-cancer/
"How does progesterone act in our breasts related to breast cancer risk?
"Estrogen causes cells to grow or proliferate1—if that occurs without being limited or slowed, estrogen can promote genetic errors and possibly cancer.
Progesterone decreases proliferation/cell growth while encouraging cells to become more specialized or mature—progesterone’s actions decrease cancer risk.
When progesterone is present, its receptors make the estrogen receptor no longer able to cause breast cells to grow or proliferate."
About 20% of E3N women on MHT took estrogen and progesterone. Result—no, (0%) increased risk for breast cancer"

Another study by Mayo:
"Mayo Clinic Meta-Analysis (2016): A systematic review of observational studies involving over 86,000 postmenopausal women found that natural progesterone was associated with a lower breast cancer risk (Relative Risk 0.67) compared to synthetic progestins when each was combined with estrogen." https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4960754/).

KEEPS Trial (Kronos Early Estrogen Prevention Study): This randomized, double-blind trial used oral micronized progesterone and found no increased risk of breast cancer in recently postmenopausal women over a four-year period. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6738629/.

MISSION Study: This prospective cohort study confirmed that estrogens combined with micronized progesterone did not increase breast cancer risk for up to 5 years of treatment duration. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4960754/).

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Profile picture for mcchesney @kathleen1314

@pmhpesp5
Yes, in the 70s progestin was used by many women, and progestin is tied tightly to breast cancer and cardio problems. Indeed, there is more risk of breast cancer with progestins plus estrogen than with estrogen alone. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC117494/

My doctor uses bioidentical progesterone to offset any problems with breast overstimulation.
The largest population study ever done showed only one group with 0% increase in breast cancer; that was the group that used a bioidentical progesterone.

A list of studies about breast cancer and hormones:
below is an article with footnotes and citations about estrogen, breast cancer and progesterone citing the 0% risk above
https://cemcor.ubc.ca/resources/does-taking-progesterone-alone-or-estrogen-increase-womens-risk-breast-cancer/
"How does progesterone act in our breasts related to breast cancer risk?
"Estrogen causes cells to grow or proliferate1—if that occurs without being limited or slowed, estrogen can promote genetic errors and possibly cancer.
Progesterone decreases proliferation/cell growth while encouraging cells to become more specialized or mature—progesterone’s actions decrease cancer risk.
When progesterone is present, its receptors make the estrogen receptor no longer able to cause breast cells to grow or proliferate."
About 20% of E3N women on MHT took estrogen and progesterone. Result—no, (0%) increased risk for breast cancer"

Another study by Mayo:
"Mayo Clinic Meta-Analysis (2016): A systematic review of observational studies involving over 86,000 postmenopausal women found that natural progesterone was associated with a lower breast cancer risk (Relative Risk 0.67) compared to synthetic progestins when each was combined with estrogen." https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4960754/).

KEEPS Trial (Kronos Early Estrogen Prevention Study): This randomized, double-blind trial used oral micronized progesterone and found no increased risk of breast cancer in recently postmenopausal women over a four-year period. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6738629/.

MISSION Study: This prospective cohort study confirmed that estrogens combined with micronized progesterone did not increase breast cancer risk for up to 5 years of treatment duration. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4960754/).

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@kathleen1314 Thank you for sharing this information. I can see that we both have a love for research. I’ll continue down this path to discover more.

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Profile picture for pmhpesp5 @pmhpesp5

@kobebeef2026 For those of you taking Collagen Peptides or Creatine, an you share the brands? Thank you.

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Fortibone

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In reply to @sirrom "Fortibone" + (show)
Profile picture for sirrom @sirrom

Oops, brand is ReGenos

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Profile picture for pmhpesp5 @pmhpesp5

@kobebeef2026 For those of you taking Collagen Peptides or Creatine, an you share the brands? Thank you.

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@pmhpesp5
I use this collagen: Vital Vitamins Collagen for Women & Men (2 Pack) - Type I, II, III, V, X

Most of the research seems to be on Fortibone.
Post about Collagen with research:
https://www.inspire.com/m/Kathleen1314/journal/d00bc3-anyone-else-see-bone-changes-with-collagen/
Various Bone supplements postings:
https://www.inspire.com/m/Kathleen1314/journal/7ed0c4-supplements-calcium-vit-k-collagen-etc/

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