Natural supplements

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

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.

Collagen, & Creatine.

Company I use is Native Path

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.

@kathleen1314
That’s awesome. I did BHRT in my 50’s stopped did nothing t score -2.5 no fractures take d k horsetail
Thyroid vitamins.
Been to 2 endocrinologist, one said the 2 shots a year the other flomax
I want neither

@kathleen1314
What brand of strontium citrate do u take.
Are u concerned about blood clots

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.

@kathleen1314 hi Kathleen, I have a friend who'd heard (she's a nurse) about calcium supplements causing build up in arteries. My NP has ordered 1,000 mg daily for me along with 1,000 iu's of D and I am on twice yearly Prolia. Any thoughts? That sounds a little out there to me... thank you!

@diane0329
Hi Diane,
This is actually a discussion held regularly on Inspire Osteoporosis site.

Firstly, let me say that I use calcium supplements as needed. I have gluten intolerance and do not always absorb my nutrients well, but I try not to over supplement so I also use Cronometer to track my food intake and supplements to see if and when I might need calcium aspartate (easier for me to absorb).

Now, calcium. Yes, what your friend is saying has research behind it. In fact, an entire book was written about the situation and how to remedy the possible problem called Vitamin K2 and the Calcium Paradox: How a Little-Known Vitamin Could Save Your Life.

But yes, too much or little absorbed calcium may end up in your arteries, almost like a bone build up. And also in order to absorb calcium, adequate vit d is needed. Indeed, without adequate vit d only about 10–15% of dietary calcium is absorbed, I am sure that your doctor is checking those vit d levels for you.

Yet what to do to make sure that your calcium stays in your bones and not your cardio system? This is where vit k2 comes in. Vitamin K2 is essential for directing calcium into bones and away from the cardio system. Vit K2 does this by activating proteins that manage calcium metabolism. K2 also activates osteocalcin to build bones, as well as, Matrix GLA Protein, MGP, to prevent arterial calcification. High K2 intake, specifically MK-7, is linked to a 50% reduction in vascular calcification.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4566462/.
https://menaq7.com/news/the-heart-health-nutrient-97-of-americans-are-missing-vitamin-k2s-role-in-cardiovascular-protection/.
etc. etc.

Indeed, Vit K2 is used in Japan as an osteoporosis treatment, entirely because of its ability to route calcium to the bones and away from the cardio system. Caveat, vit k2 should be oked by your doctor especially if you are on blood-thinning medications. In fact, I ask my doctor plus I run my supplements and medical conditions by copilot to make sure that I have no known problems with my other supplements or my few drugs. I have gluten intolerance so I take more supplements than some to be able to get my nutrients, but since stopping gluten that is improving and I am dropping supplements. So sometimes my health is a moving target that needs an AIs help to juggle all the potentialities.

Another thing to consider is that the body may only absorb 500 mg at a time of calcium then the rest is secreted or goes places where you don't want it to go. So if you do decide to supplement with calcium, based on your doctor's recommendations and after checking your diet/supplements on cronometer, then do so in just 500 mg doses at a time. Also, ask your doctor about adding in Vit k2 in an appropriate amount for you and your body.

Now once the research and studies are out of the way then the question arises, if I take calcium and vit k2 to help protect my cardio system what kind of K2? This is where most of the discussion has arisen in the Inspire community. Mk7 or mk4 and how much? Mk7 makes the most logistical sense and depending on cronometer results for your diet the range may run from 180 to 360 micrograms, another good question for your doctor to check within your medical history context.
Discussions about Vit K and some other supplements, what Inspire posters use and why:
So I tried to take all those discussions and replies and put them into a compilation post and here are several:
Vitamin K:
https://www.inspire.com/groups/bone-health-and-osteoporosis/discussion/mk-4-mk-7-and-osteoporosis/
https://www.inspire.com/groups/bone-health-and-osteoporosis/discussion/vitamin-k-supplement-what-kind/
https://www.inspire.com/groups/bone-health-and-osteoporosis/discussion/vit-k-again-a-danger-or-needed-for-osteoporosis-patients/
A general post of various supplements for bone health:
https://www.inspire.com/m/Kathleen1314/journal/7ed0c4-supplements-calcium-vit-k-collagen-etc/
I hope this helps, happy researching! 🙂

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.