How do you halt the progress of osteoporosis?

@dulu first, it looks like the Algae Cal bone builder pack includes 680mg strontium. Is that right? That is the dose recommended for bone density improvement. However, strontium throws off the DEXA results. Strontium is heavier than calcium and makes bones look more dense on the scans. Once you have taken that dose of strontium you can no longer rely on the DEXA for accurate results.

How did you come by that info on strontium? I would be interested in reading about it.

Following….

It is common knowledge in the osteoporosis community and frequently discussed on another forum, Inspire, where a doctor has input.

Googling brings many sites on this:

There are also health risks with strontium, which led the European Union to withdraw the ranelate from from the market. Strontium is not regulated in the US. Some brands, like Doctors Best, have discontinued it after the health risks were discussed in Europe. Please read this on both the risks and the effect on DEXA.

"Research from Europe suggests that patients on strontium ranelate may have an increased risk of heart attacks[1,3], blood clots,[1, 3] and serious skin reactions (DRESS syndrome)[3]."

This site also says “Strontium… results in an overestimation (up to 50%) of the increase in bone density using DXA methods.”[3]

Even after all this, I confess to thinking about using it after Tymlos if I cannot tolerate anything else. Not saying I would, and I am all for using regulated meds if tolerated, for osteoporosis severe enough to warrant meds. Strontium is no more "natural" than anything else and the citrate form has not been studied adequately, nor is it regulated.

I wouldn't care if strontium affected the DEXA reading if, and only if, there is clear evidence that it is critical to bone health and renewal, is usable by the body if taken orally, a clear dosing protocol has been established and stood the test of longitudinal studies, and one could be assured of accuracy in dosing and quality/safety of the material. And a full and accurate assessment of risk factors are available. That's kind of my personal minimum requirement for ingesting anything. If strontium met those criteria, I'd take it. It's not as if physicians are basing life-and-death or surgical decisions based on DEXA results and there are myriad ways the DEXA results can be inconsistent anyway. But my endocrinologist did not mention strontium when we discussed tools to help maintain bone density so it hasn't been on my radar until now.

Strontium was on my radar 15 years ago. It probably isn't on yours because it has fallen out of favor and, as I wrote before, some companies have discontinued it. It used to be all the rage on natural osteoporosis treatment sites. Now even Dr. McCormick does not recommend it, though "bone lady" continues to.

The problem with the DEXA issue is that so many people think their bones have improved because they don't know about this effect. This indirectly increases risk of fracture because people think their bones are better than they are, and also because that leads them to further avoid treatment they may need and not know it!

I understand. I'm not inclined to take the stuff unless I trip over a compelling argument for it. Do you have any thoughts on collagen supplements? If I decide to take that, I'd prefer it plant-based but don't know much about it.

Sorry I don't know much about collagen and I would say you are probably the best researcher on here! To me, it looks like studies are conflicting:
https://www.verywellhealth.com/collagen-supplements-for-skin-89940
Apparently collagen supplements choose where they want to go in the body.

Have you looked into bone broth?

I haven't looked into bone broth yet but I'm also not certain of how healthful it could actually be short of being obtained from really healthy, grass-fed livestock not fed hormones and anti-biotics.

But I'm currently wondering what to do about the calcium supplements my doctors advise taking, when both Cleveland Clinic (where my doctors work, no less) and Mayo seem to have studies suggesting coronary issues from them. I know that I will never eat enough sardines (ick) or pilchard (cat food in the U.K.) to get enough calcium from "food sources" and my docs weren't impressed by my "ice cream for calcium" strategy ;-). And I'm not fond of soy. So supplements are my friend I hope.

A friend sent me the following article from a near-tabloid but they tend to quote med bits accurately. Excerpt and URL below. And as always some study results conflict with others. Better Davis once said that getting older 'ain't for sissies.' Now I know why...sheez.

"'Should be stopped': Professor warns against taking mineral supplement - 'bad' for heart"

I am in the same boat. There is a lot of info out there about the possible risks of calcium supplements and many docs now say to get calcium from food.

Two problems with that for me: I cannot eat dairy, any dairy. I have considered pursuing desensitization. Second, with all these fractures, there isn't much room in my tummy for a lot of food so fitting in the other sources is problematic!

I hope that taking D3 and K2 keeps it out of my arteries, to some extent anyway. I only take 800mg in supplements. On Tymlos I would be nervous not ingesting any.