1. < Osteoporosis & Bone Health

What supplements help Osteopenia, Osteoporosis?

Posted by grace1215 @grace1215, Feb 4, 2020

Hi, I am a new member here and wanted to find out if anyone has used AlgaeCal Plus & Strontium Citrate for Osteopenia? I have had this condition for 10 years now plus five years with Osteoarthritis of the hip which I am hoping will help not only my hip but the DEXA scan came up with Osteopenia scores.

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

windyshores | @windyshores | May 7 7:43pm
In reply to @guinivere "Re the issue of too much calcium, that was a definite worry of mine so I..." + (show)
@guinivere

Re the issue of too much calcium, that was a definite worry of mine so I decided to get my calcium entirely from food & I was very happy to find out how easy it has been. And by the way I am 86 with one prior fracture & awful bone numbers1

To start with I have een taking Ensure Max Protein once a day in the morning & that is 650 mg right there!
I then made a list of all the foods that I that contain calcium that I already consure or couldeasily consume every day. Fortified orange juice/almond milk/fortified 2% milk & soy milk etc. From there I went to a whole bunch of things like cheese, nuts, sardines, yogurts, etc etc but the point is it is tremendously easy to get to 1200 mg! And I feel better about that 1200 mg since it is all FOOD!

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I believe that calcium from fortified products is no different from calcium from supplements (pills). Maybe absorption is better, who knows.

REPLY
guinivere | @guinivere | May 7 7:45pm
In reply to @guinivere "Re the issue of too much calcium, that was a definite worry of mine so I..." + (show)
@guinivere

Re the issue of too much calcium, that was a definite worry of mine so I decided to get my calcium entirely from food & I was very happy to find out how easy it has been. And by the way I am 86 with one prior fracture & awful bone numbers1

To start with I have een taking Ensure Max Protein once a day in the morning & that is 650 mg right there!
I then made a list of all the foods that I that contain calcium that I already consure or couldeasily consume every day. Fortified orange juice/almond milk/fortified 2% milk & soy milk etc. From there I went to a whole bunch of things like cheese, nuts, sardines, yogurts, etc etc but the point is it is tremendously easy to get to 1200 mg! And I feel better about that 1200 mg since it is all FOOD!

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Hi Windy! Am still waiting for BCBS to get back to me on the Tymlos. What about Medicare? Should I be contacting them too?
Pam

REPLY
1 reply
windyshores | @windyshores | May 7 8:27pm
In reply to @guinivere "Hi Windy! Am still waiting for BCBS to get back to me on the Tymlos. What..." + (show)
@guinivere

Hi Windy! Am still waiting for BCBS to get back to me on the Tymlos. What about Medicare? Should I be contacting them too?
Pam

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Hi @guinivere! Do you have regular Medicare with a supplement? If so I don't know. I have Medicare Advantage. It can't hurt. BC/BS should be able to tell you if you also need to talk to Medicare. Can you call them to see what is going on?

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1 reply
guinivere | @guinivere | May 10 10:48pm
In reply to @windyshores "Hi @guinivere! Do you have regular Medicare with a supplement? If so I don't know. I..." + (show)
@windyshores

Hi @guinivere! Do you have regular Medicare with a supplement? If so I don't know. I have Medicare Advantage. It can't hurt. BC/BS should be able to tell you if you also need to talk to Medicare. Can you call them to see what is going on?

Jump to this post

I have received an envelope from UW stuffed with all kinds of paperwork for me to fill out & return! NoTHING will happen until they get all this happen. Eg copies of tax returns, pay stubs, etc etc etc. Only after that will anything get sent to BCBS! And only then will the 45 day clock start ticking down!!!!!!
Expletives removed..................................

REPLY
1 reply
windyshores | @windyshores | May 11 4:19am
In reply to @guinivere "I have received an envelope from UW stuffed with all kinds of paperwork for me to..." + (show)
@guinivere

I have received an envelope from UW stuffed with all kinds of paperwork for me to fill out & return! NoTHING will happen until they get all this happen. Eg copies of tax returns, pay stubs, etc etc etc. Only after that will anything get sent to BCBS! And only then will the 45 day clock start ticking down!!!!!!
Expletives removed..................................

Jump to this post

I don't understand @guinivere. What is UW? Are you applying to Radius for financial assistance? Who are you sending tax returns and pay stubs to?

My doctor had to do a prior authorization for my last 6 months of Tymlos with BC/BS Medicare Advantage. For the first 18 months Radius Assist gave me free Tymlos after I provided tax returns.

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1 reply
dianeelizabeth | @dianeelizabeth | May 12 9:12am

Here is perhaps a less biased article on Strontium and Algaecal as they are not selling the product:
https://nwhn.org/have-you-ever-heard-of-algaecal-im-being-deluged-with-ads-saying-any-nutrient-supplied-in-natural-form-such-as-from-plants-is-better-absorbed-than-nutrients-supplied-from-rocks/

Hope this helps. It is difficult to know what to believe sometimes. The NIH is always a good source although more technical in nature.

Diane

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healthmatters | @healthmatters | May 13 9:32am

A little more about supplements: If this can help anybody....

First, regarding calcium citrate mentioned in the article, every source I have read about it states it can be absorbed on an empty stomach, unlike the calcium carbonate form.

The following is a matter of not only getting calcium absorbed in the gut with vitamin D3, but vitamin K2's role of pulling calcium out of the blood stream and into the bone.

Some of you may know about vitamin K2 being important. I have done some research about how it's involved in bone building. The simple explanation is that vitamin K2 directs calcium out of the bloodstream and to the bone.

A very good article about vitamin K2 - https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-k2#bone-health

And from another article, quote, "Vitamin D & vitamin K2 are complimentary vitamins. While Vitamin D is necessary for absorbing calcium from food in the intestines, Vitamin K2 does two functions that help direct the calcium to the correct spot:
1) by activating Osteocalcin, a protein that promotes accumulation of calcium in bones and teeth, and
2) by decreasing accumulation of calcium in soft tissues, such as kidneys and blood vessels

Vitamin K2 is found in beef liver, egg yolk, soft cheese and fermented foods."
Source: https://www.hyperparathyroidmd.com/hyperparathyroidism-vitamin-d/

I get K2 from supplements and natto too. Natto is a fermented soybean product found in some Asian food stores.

I freeze my natto since I use only 2 teaspoons daily and don't want it to spoil. I also take the brand Nature Made D3 with Vitamin K2 daily and aim for 100-300 micrograms of Vitamin K2 daily. The supplement has 100mcg.

I take my vitamin D3, calcium, zinc, magnesium combo pill, four pills dosed throughout the day. I take the first pill with the vitamin K2 supplement and the third pill with 2 teaspoons of natto.

REPLY
2 replies
windyshores | @windyshores | May 13 12:11pm
In reply to @healthmatters "A little more about supplements: If this can help anybody.... First, regarding calcium citrate mentioned in..." + (show)
@healthmatters

A little more about supplements: If this can help anybody....

First, regarding calcium citrate mentioned in the article, every source I have read about it states it can be absorbed on an empty stomach, unlike the calcium carbonate form.

The following is a matter of not only getting calcium absorbed in the gut with vitamin D3, but vitamin K2's role of pulling calcium out of the blood stream and into the bone.

Some of you may know about vitamin K2 being important. I have done some research about how it's involved in bone building. The simple explanation is that vitamin K2 directs calcium out of the bloodstream and to the bone.

A very good article about vitamin K2 - https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-k2#bone-health

And from another article, quote, "Vitamin D & vitamin K2 are complimentary vitamins. While Vitamin D is necessary for absorbing calcium from food in the intestines, Vitamin K2 does two functions that help direct the calcium to the correct spot:
1) by activating Osteocalcin, a protein that promotes accumulation of calcium in bones and teeth, and
2) by decreasing accumulation of calcium in soft tissues, such as kidneys and blood vessels

Vitamin K2 is found in beef liver, egg yolk, soft cheese and fermented foods."
Source: https://www.hyperparathyroidmd.com/hyperparathyroidism-vitamin-d/

I get K2 from supplements and natto too. Natto is a fermented soybean product found in some Asian food stores.

I freeze my natto since I use only 2 teaspoons daily and don't want it to spoil. I also take the brand Nature Made D3 with Vitamin K2 daily and aim for 100-300 micrograms of Vitamin K2 daily. The supplement has 100mcg.

I take my vitamin D3, calcium, zinc, magnesium combo pill, four pills dosed throughout the day. I take the first pill with the vitamin K2 supplement and the third pill with 2 teaspoons of natto.

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@healthmatters have you heard that calcium and magnesium compete with each other? I separate them by 2 hours. Wondering if there is new info on this.

REPLY
1 reply
guinivere | @guinivere | May 13 10:46pm
In reply to @windyshores "I don't understand @guinivere. What is UW? Are you applying to Radius for financial assistance? Who..." + (show)
@windyshores

I don't understand @guinivere. What is UW? Are you applying to Radius for financial assistance? Who are you sending tax returns and pay stubs to?

My doctor had to do a prior authorization for my last 6 months of Tymlos with BC/BS Medicare Advantage. For the first 18 months Radius Assist gave me free Tymlos after I provided tax returns.

Jump to this post

UW is University of Wisconsin, in this case, their department of Endocrinology where my UW doctor is located ----UW Health Medication assistance Program/ I have to send a copy for my federal tax returm with supporting schedules, 2 bank statements, & another thing that doesn't apply to me. Once all of this is received, it will be 45 days before a decision is made.

It's already been a month or more. I don't get it. Email me!!!!

REPLY
1 reply
windyshores | @windyshores | May 13 10:59pm
In reply to @guinivere "UW is University of Wisconsin, in this case, their department of Endocrinology where my UW doctor..." + (show)
@guinivere

UW is University of Wisconsin, in this case, their department of Endocrinology where my UW doctor is located ----UW Health Medication assistance Program/ I have to send a copy for my federal tax returm with supporting schedules, 2 bank statements, & another thing that doesn't apply to me. Once all of this is received, it will be 45 days before a decision is made.

It's already been a month or more. I don't get it. Email me!!!!

Jump to this post

@guinivere are you also applying to the medication company for financial assistance?

REPLY
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