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.

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callalloo | @callalloo | Apr 10, 2022
In reply to @callalloo "Me too. It's like the glowing, sometimes outright suspect reports about OsteoStrong on threads that, when..." + (show)
@callalloo

Me too. It's like the glowing, sometimes outright suspect reports about OsteoStrong on threads that, when you click on the writer, you see the writer joined Mayo Connect the day before and never posted on any other subject related to ostepenia or osteoporosis, before or after.

I'm not saying that OsteoStrong isn't, or is, valuable but clearly it's using social media as undisclosed advertising. And likely using artificial intelligence to generate fake people to spew rave reviews since the syntax is oddly standardized.

From what I've been told by doctors, the basics for hoping to maintain bone are calcium, vitamin D and bpvitamin K2. There is ongoing research suggesting that K2 helps direct the other two for bone use and hopefully prevents arterial build-up. My excellent cardiologist says the scientific jury is still out on this and she takes the same trio and is watching our Agotsten (aka 'Calcium') scores.

I would add a good supplement of trace minerals, including the boron that @sunflower mentioned. Am researching the various strontiums but not certain about it. I know it changes a DEXA reading but don't know if it actually helps save, or renew, healthy bone. Studies on orthosilicic acid look interesting so I'm adding that to my trace minerals supplement program.

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Oops, meant @sunnyflower.

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dbmenger | @dbmenger | Jul 17, 2022
In reply to @criss "For those who are on the fence about whether or not to take biphosphonates or Prolia..." + (show)
@criss

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.

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My doctor is on me unmercifully about getting another infusion of Reclast. I had high blood pressure, depression and hair loss with the last dose so I don’t want to repeat that bad time. Suggestions, please?
My bone density, BT W, remained the same after Reclast.
I’m not a proponent of any of these bone-builders.

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callalloo | @callalloo | Jul 23, 2022
In reply to @criss "For those who are on the fence about whether or not to take biphosphonates or Prolia..." + (show)
@criss

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.

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Can you find out why the doctor is insistent on Reclast versus other options? And then get a second opinion from a different doctor. There are some drugs that are unique and have no good substitutes but I don't think Reclast falls into that category.

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gretchen1018 | @gretchen1018 | Jul 24, 2022
In reply to @rmc7 "Can I absorb the AlgaeCal calcium? I had RNY gastric bypass in 2000. I have been..." + (show)
@rmc7

Can I absorb the AlgaeCal calcium? I had RNY gastric bypass in 2000. I have been diagnosed with osteoporosis and really don’t want to take the meds if possible.

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Doctor's now recommend getting your calcium from foods and not supplements.

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1 reply
callalloo | @callalloo | Jul 24, 2022
In reply to @gretchen1018 "Doctor's now recommend getting your calcium from foods and not supplements." + (show)
@gretchen1018

Doctor's now recommend getting your calcium from foods and not supplements.

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The calcium from food is more digestible and more absorbable according to peer-reviewed studies. I'm trying to get more calcium into daily eating plan but taking a "bone support" supplement to make up any shortfall. I think it's hard to follow recommendations perfectly, not the least because they keep changing on us ;-).

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2 replies
criss | @criss | Jul 25, 2022
In reply to @criss "For those who are on the fence about whether or not to take biphosphonates or Prolia..." + (show)
@criss

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.

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After being diagnosed with osteoporosis at age 56 I followed my doctor's recommendation to take biphosphonates. After 2 years there was slight improvement, but after a required pause in the medication I regressed. I repeated the process with another drug (I forget which ones, this was several years ago) with the same results. I did some research and decided to try AlgaeCal. Their website has loads of info and a staff of medical experts in bone health who can answer your questions, and an online support group. After 2 years taking the plant based calcium supplements I had significant improvement and no side effects. Every DEXA scan I've had since I began AlgaeCal has shown continued bone growth, so I no longer have osteoporosis! This has been my experience, I know everyone's condition is different. But do the research, find what your options are, and be aware of the push for pharmaceuticals.

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2 replies
catluvr999 | @catluvr999 | Jul 25, 2022
In reply to @callalloo "The calcium from food is more digestible and more absorbable according to peer-reviewed studies. I'm trying..." + (show)
@callalloo

The calcium from food is more digestible and more absorbable according to peer-reviewed studies. I'm trying to get more calcium into daily eating plan but taking a "bone support" supplement to make up any shortfall. I think it's hard to follow recommendations perfectly, not the least because they keep changing on us ;-).

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My current system, though a bit tedious, is to have two 250-mg calcium capsules in my day's vitamin slot in my weekly dispenser. I have breakfast, and log it in eaterpad (freebie version includes calcium tracking). If my breakast is skimpy on calcium, I take one of the two. And the process repeats throughout the day as I eat and log. Often, by nighttime, it turns out I don't even need to break into my calcium *bottle* to make up the difference (up to 500mg due to the absorption guideline).

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catluvr999 | @catluvr999 | Jul 25, 2022
In reply to @hillclan "dappy, I agree with you. I wonder how many people who have taken the bisphosphonates end..." + (show)
@hillclan

dappy, I agree with you. I wonder how many people who have taken the bisphosphonates end up having fractures anyhow. I have a sister who claims her osteoporosis was reversed after she started jumping on a small trampoline 10 minutes a day. She has been taking some kind of multi mineral supplement . My neighbor took the bisphosphates for 5 years, stopped, and later was found to have a fractured vertebra without knowing what caused it. I have osteoporosis of the spine but would rather avoid taking the medication unless the effectiveness is high enough to seem worth it.

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I'll be talking with an endocrinologist to find out if the risks for me are worth it. For all the talk about OP being an experience that should be customized as far as treatment, the doctors sure talk in generalities a lot and imply we're intended to get some personal treatment takeaway idea out of that. I like Dr Gina Woods' graphic in her Osteoporosis Update 2018 YouTube video that shows how many OP patients would need to be treated with Bisphosphonates for 3 years to *help prevent* a single fracture vs how many would need to be treated to (allegedly/hypothetically) *harm*/(cause a single atypical femur fracture) and it made a general case for medicating (see attached). My personal decision is TBD.
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1 reply
windyshores | @windyshores | Jul 26, 2022
In reply to @criss "After being diagnosed with osteoporosis at age 56 I followed my doctor's recommendation to take biphosphonates...." + (show)
@criss

After being diagnosed with osteoporosis at age 56 I followed my doctor's recommendation to take biphosphonates. After 2 years there was slight improvement, but after a required pause in the medication I regressed. I repeated the process with another drug (I forget which ones, this was several years ago) with the same results. I did some research and decided to try AlgaeCal. Their website has loads of info and a staff of medical experts in bone health who can answer your questions, and an online support group. After 2 years taking the plant based calcium supplements I had significant improvement and no side effects. Every DEXA scan I've had since I began AlgaeCal has shown continued bone growth, so I no longer have osteoporosis! This has been my experience, I know everyone's condition is different. But do the research, find what your options are, and be aware of the push for pharmaceuticals.

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@criss did your treatment with AlgaeCal include strontium? I cannot find the exact ingredients on their website but many of the testimonials on bone growth are from people who took strontium.

Strontium is denser than calcium and replaces it in bones, so the DEXA looks better than it is, and will make the DEXA look better than it is as strontium accumulates in the bones.

I find the AlgaeCal website to be quite misleading.

I wonder what your original DEXA scores were. Some of us have multiple fractures that are painful and disabling and are grateful for the medications that make us stronger. If your scores were not that bad, I can understand trying alternatives to meds, but meds are truly lifesaving for some.

If your DEXA was more severe your doc should have put you on a bone-builder like Forteo, Tymlos or Evenity, not a bisphosphonate. Again, if your osteoporosis is mild, it's great that you are trying an alternative but be careful if strontium is part of your regimen!

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Teri | @tsc | Jul 26, 2022
In reply to @criss "After being diagnosed with osteoporosis at age 56 I followed my doctor's recommendation to take biphosphonates...." + (show)
@criss

After being diagnosed with osteoporosis at age 56 I followed my doctor's recommendation to take biphosphonates. After 2 years there was slight improvement, but after a required pause in the medication I regressed. I repeated the process with another drug (I forget which ones, this was several years ago) with the same results. I did some research and decided to try AlgaeCal. Their website has loads of info and a staff of medical experts in bone health who can answer your questions, and an online support group. After 2 years taking the plant based calcium supplements I had significant improvement and no side effects. Every DEXA scan I've had since I began AlgaeCal has shown continued bone growth, so I no longer have osteoporosis! This has been my experience, I know everyone's condition is different. But do the research, find what your options are, and be aware of the push for pharmaceuticals.

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Hi @criss, I've noticed Algaecal has a number of supplements. Which ones do you take? Algaecal also has some videos of Dr. Loren Fishman's bone-building yoga workouts which I've been doing.

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