What supplements help Osteopenia, Osteoporosis?

Hi, I have serious bone Mets from prostate cancer. So, I have been using AlgaeCal plus & Strontium for the last 6 months for bone support. I have had no side effects but you will have more gas than before. I have not had a new dexa scan as of now but will have one next month for a comparison.
Good luck on your journey!

@grace1215 here is an article about DEXA scans and how taking strontium affects them.
https://www.healthcentral.com/article/your-dxa-questions-answered-by-larry-jankowski-cbdt-part-2
I was told by the endocrinologist who I went to for osteoporosis that AlgaeCal is no better than taking calcium and vitamin D.

I am reading the book “Strong Women, Strong Bones” and I highly recommend it. It was recommended to my sister by her doctor.
You are lucky to still be able to get some control over this. Some of the recommended exercises cannot be done once you have osteoporosis because there is too much chance of a fracture.
JK

Hello @grace1215. I'd like to invite @bill54321, @mhalpin53, @beatlebassbabe, @rubywitch67, @butch24350, and @asegura to this discussion as they have all talked about having osteopenia as well and may be able to share their experiences with management.

Here is a study that talks about the efficacy of AlgaeCal (AC) from the NIH, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3053489/. Of note, the study did conclude that calcium supplements in combination with increased activity did have positive results for many. It also mentions that adding any supplements should involve your provider as well. @healer74's experience with AlgaeCal is similar to what a study from the NIH confirmed through research results in 2010 when they determined mild to no side-effects, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20528255.

@grace1215, how bad is your osteoarthritis of the hip? I have experience with end-stage arthritis in knees and ankles and know that when arthritis reaches that point, it can cause pain and mobility issues.

@JustinMcClanahan I always find the NCBI reports to be very technical and complex, which when it comes to medical information, I am not. Am I correct in my interpretation that the other two were not straight calcium and vitamin D? They seem to really only name AlgaeCal which makes me suspect the study was funded by the manufacturer of it. I could be off base, so please feel free to say so.
JK

Caution on Calcium Suppliments... I have had a long standing problem with Osteopenia. I am sorry I can not give you more advice. I am complcated at 90 years old. I was getting the yearly infusion into my veins with flowmax?. I had a bowel obstruction in 2018. I went to the hospital and they got me unplugged.Ha Now I developed leg jerks they wrongly called "restless leg Snydrome. They kept me over into the hospital ward long enough to qualify for skilled nursing. By that time , I had developed more lower leg and shoulder weakness. After 20 days in the Taos Living Center, my Family Physician had an intern who was specializing in weakness of undetermined sources. She tested me and came up with the diagnosis os Hpercalcimia(Two much calcium was leading me down a wrong path.) I started Potassium Clo0ride ER M-20 MEG. As a retired PT, I welcomed a very strenuous program of PT and OT. I left after 100 days in a wheel chair. I have servere Lumbar problems and my L 5,S-1 sent me back for rehab. I now am in out-patient PT for a neck fusion and general conditioning. So, my osteopenia got swept into the back ground. I diagnosed myself with Myoclonic Dystonic Movement disorder and will see my neurologist next weeki. The moral of this story is, WATCH OUT FOR TOO MUCH CALCIUM SUPPLIMENT IN ANY FORM. ALSO< please check your Hyporhalumus and related effects of abnormal hand movements when you extend your arms and wrists(intention-not non intention tremor, and effects on "Restless leg sy6ndrome.(magnesium) My myoclonic jerks come any time of the day I recline and get sleepy.n they come. My increase suggest a brain tumor and that is what I am going to investigate. Any one have this? Not the medical definition but the actual 2 foot myoclonic Dystonia lighting painful jerks. Good luck with your AlgaeCalo. Does the Cal stand for Calcium? Check all your blood work Yourself.

@bill54321 thanks, Bill. Good cautionary advice. I think many of us diagnosed with osteoporosis tend to want to get as much calcium as possible not realizing we could over-dose. I personally think I will take another look at just how much calcium I am taking. The supplement I am is 600 mg and says to take two a day. Many days I have little other calcium but there are some days when I get more. I often use MyFitnessPal to track my food and you can customize it with the nutrients you want to track. I can probably put my planned meals in before I actually eat and that way know if I should take the second dose of calcium/vitamin D.
JK

Thank you!!!!

For those who are on the fence about whether or not to take biphosphonates or Prolia for osteoporosis, look into Lara Pizzorno's book "Your Bones". She explains how osteoclasts and osteoblasts work on bone rebuilding and how those medications negatively affect the process in the long term. She recommends natural supplements of AlgaeCal, Strontium and perhaps some others to safely rebuild strong bone. Support is also available through The AlgaeCal Community on Facebook. Lara will often answer specific questions there. Here's a link to her personal story: https://www.algaecal.com/expert-insights/lara-pizzorno-shares-her-personal-story/ I took Actonel for 4 years and Boniva for another 4 years. My bone scans showed some improvement while on the drugs but a decrease in bone density after discontinuing after the recommended length of time. You can't stay on these drugs indefinitely. I've been taking AlgaeCal and Strontium for over a year with no problem. I expect my next Dexa scan to show improvement.

@crisdI,ll be interested in hearing your results as I'm on the fence

@lioness I wish I could help you. I was wondering if you could tell me how to start a new discussion on Mayo Connect. Thanks.