Looking for best natural supplements for osteoporosis

@yds - although rather controversial on this forum, I have recently started to take strontium citrate after my friend's doctor recommended it to her. (She was unable to take any of the meds). The doctor is pleased with her dxa results even though they are skewed in her favor due to the weight of the mineral in a machine not calibrated to accommodate it. The doctor views all increases and lack of fractures as successful. Another friend of mine went from osteoporosis to osteopenia after one year of taking the over-the-counter mineral supplement.

Hi, I am new to this forum and have questions about what to take. I was just diagnosed with a compression fracture in my thoracic spine and had a Dexa scan and had not had one in a very long time. My score was -2.5. Of course they want to start medications but I cannot take those as I am also a throat cancer survivor and almost all the mediations have too awful side effects such as swallowing difficulties which I already have. I want to try some type of natural type supplements to see if I can keep safe. I am 5'2" tall and weigh 116 and am 77 years old. I am fairly active as we live on a farm and feed cows and horses and my compression fracture actually happened while I was riding my horse. I am now trying Somara because it is liquid that I can swallow. Has anyone tried that with good success? Thanks.

@loyd1957
I have had significant improvement after one year. I am taking a multi pronged approach- the Osteo-K, weight bearing training, and I had a year long course of Evenity. I followed it up with a Reclast infusion which gave me tremendous empathy for people who get chemotherapy. I have since moved to Europe and don't know what to expect as far as a plan of action. Keeping up on that weight training and ask friends to bring me the supplement.

Morning I have PMR im just wondering if I could try tumeric with black pepper supplement as im taking steroids but coming down on my dosage as I have been on these a long time now so GP has told me to come down 1mg each month

Hello @kimbo56, Welcome to Connect. You might find these related discussions helpful.
-- Anti-inflammatory diet and supplements for PMR
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/anti-inflammatory-diet-and-supplements-for-pmr/
-- How to Slowly and Safely Taper Off Prednisone but ... no set rules.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/how-to-slowly-and-safely-taper-off-prednisone-but-no-set-rules/
My PMR is currently in remission but I take a turmeric daily to hopefully help with inflammation. I would discuss any supplements with your GP before starting it.

@loyd1957
Hi loydl,
Probably not enough, lol. I use hand weights from 5-20 lbs depending.on exercise. Also use resistance bands for upper back. I do yoga and have been a 'walker' for years. They say that walking doesn't help build bone but I'm pretty sure it stabilized my DEXA score. Between a 6yr span, by bone only degraded from -3.2 to -3.3 in 6 years mind you. Trying not to take drugs but we shall see. I'm fightin' the good fight. Best to you.

@jqualls Have you looked into Raloxifine ? I use this as my stabilizing medication after Forteo as the least side effects as cannot take the recommended basophamates .. Also Vit D, K2 and magnesium.

@laren3 -3.2 and-3.3 are considered "severe osteoporosis". You are on the road to fracturing. If you don't want to fracture, try seeing an endocrinologist so they can see if there is an underlying cause for your severe bone loss, then they will most likely suggest an anabolic medication to rebuild your bone density. A -3.0 score means u have lost 25-35% of your bone mass. A this point you cannot just exercise, or supplement, your way to better bones.

@singingbones
I feel like I read more medical literature than the average American because I need to, because there’s so many red flags that doctor’s don’t bring to our attention, yet I still feel like I’m not doing enough, don’t know enough…I just found out yesterday from a really good Osteo Boston presentation by Dr. Deva Bone, a parathyroid specialist, that for people 40 and over, Calcium levels should be mid to high 9s, and the reference ranges are way too wide. The most I’ve ever been is 9.3, and often into the mid 8s. I’ve had reading that were actually flagged as low, but no doctor ever pointed that out until a few months ago with a new primary care. My Calcium was low and he said it should be higher. I’ve been taking Calcium for years, and consistently the last 15 years. When I brought up my supplemental Calcium intake to my previous doctor, as I was getting older and asking about increasing my supplement intake, she advised me not to take more than 500 mg. a day because of the concern about it going to the heart. The thing is that it should have been common knowledge that if my Calcium wasn’t in the mid to high 9s, I should have been monitored and told to supplement until I got to that level. No doctor ever told me that before my current doctor. This doctor told me to double my Calcium supplement, which is the same thing Dr. Boone said in the presentation. Also, Calcium should not go above 10-10.1. If it does, thats a major red flag of having primary hypoparathyroidism, and needs attention NOW, not something to watch and see if it comes down. I learned so much from this:

There is controversy over whether calcium contributes to atherosclerosis. I lean toward the side with your previous doctor. Maybe because of older research. He and I may be older.
I wonder what your parathyroid levels register.
Thanks for reading more than the average and for passing it to us here.