Strontium citrate, fractures and lack of research
I am looking to see if there are any studies done that show a reduced chance of fracture from using Strontium citrate (Algaecal) as opposed to calcium. Everything I have read only mentions increase of density using it. Does anyone have doctor input or a study showing an decrease in bone fractures?
***Director's Note:***
There’s not enough clinical research to know if strontium citrate effectively prevents or treats osteoporosis. Mayo Clinic does not recomend its use. Clinically researched osteoporosis medications have demonstrated fracture prevention benefit with less risk.
The FDA doesn’t regulate supplements in the same way as prescription drugs, so it's not possible to know if if they are safe or work well or even how much of the main ingredient they contain.
If you wish to take a strontium supplement, it is advised to discuss with your doctor.
All information shared by members on the Mayo Clinic Connect is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your health. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the community.
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@daisy17 Then might REMS be a viable bone density scanning alternative?
"REMS is not affected by strontium. The problem with strontium and dexa is the radiation and how it reacts to the denser strontium. REMS Echolight does not use radiation."
"BMD measured by ultrasound is not affected by the strontium content of bone. An in vitro study concluded that aBMD measured by DXA was prone to overestimation in the presence of strontium, but acoustic parameters measured by quantitative ultrasound (QUS) are independent of strontium concentration."
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29080282/
https://strontiumforbones.blogspot.com/2023/11/echolight-scans-are-not-affected-by.html
@daisy17
Well, Daisy, we just had a long discussion about how that is old and now moot information. The quick synopsis is that yes, dexa over reads strontium ( the strontium dexa skew) because strontium is denser than calcium; the over read is about 10% and really doesn't matter because in terms of bone density "up is up" no matter the amount.
More importantly, REMS and TBS are not affected by strontium denser weight and both of those tests and reports show better bone density, better bone quality for strontium users. Plus research shows strontium prevents fractures around 49% other research shows strontium users have few if any side effects.
So as we strontium users say "God bless the dexa strontium skew".
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2 Reactions@tonilynn
No, strontium is incorporated into the bone so the dexa is not set for the denser strontium and reads it higher.
But it really doesn't matter, especially after the first dexa on strontium, because "up is up" no matter the amount, no fractures are no fractures and no side effects are no side effects.
Doctors and dexa techs just don't like knowing that the dexa is not reading strontium bones exactly.
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1 Reaction@tonilynn REMS testing is not readily available, The nearest place I can get it is about a 3 hour drive.
I had a bad reaction to Strontium Citrate (Algae Cal) I started to develop a rash after just a few doses. I immediately stopped taking when I came across a case of a woman that became covered in hives after 6 weeks of strontium citrate. I was lucky to find the woman's case and stop the strontium immediately. Rashes have subsided for the most part. Happy I did not continue and end up like the poor woman. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7985217/
@blueberre
The case which you cite is a case of DRESS, eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome with an added granulomatous dermatitis. This is not a typical rash.
This is a reaction which can be found in reaction to drugs, supplements, even some foods, The woman in the population study of one was taking a wide variety of drugs and supplements. The report could not distinguish what might have caused her reaction. Her outpatient medications included levothyroxine, sumatriptan, topiramate, trazodone, and alprazolam. She also reported taking one supplement called “elderberry.” She eventually recalled taking 3 other supplements: Sleepwell, AlgaeCal Plus, and strontium citrate.
It seems that she was taking a double dose of the strontium citrate, 2times 680mg.; using algaeCal and strontium citrate, both which have strontium citrate in them.
I can find no records in research of links to the correct dose of strontium citrate; this one case is the only one which had any strontium citrate in its research .
To repeat DRESS syndrome can be tied to many supplements, drugs and even food.
Taking double the dose of any drug, supplement or every food or water can have terrible consequences.
We don't know what caused her reaction; we do know that she used a wide variety of drugs and supplements and seems to have at least use strontium very unwisely.
To quote Narnia: "Aslan is not a tame lion" , neither is strontium citrate or any drug or supplement a toy.
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1 Reaction@kathleen1314 I agree that her reaction and mine may not be the same. I do know that I hesitated to take the strontium . I finally started due to good reviews and within 2 days, I had hives. Coincidence? Maybe, but I had taken nothing different than my regular vitamins. I have never had hives before, so I still feel that strontium caused my reaction . It is starting to subside after 3 days without taking the strontium again. Algae Cal was quick to refund me when I contactd them. Just cautioning others.
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1 ReactionI believe that I was mistaken in that AlgaeCal contains a full dose of strontium; it seems to just be a trace. Sorry for the mistake.
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1 Reaction@kathleen1314 - love the quote and correlation: "Aslan is not a tame lion, but He's good". So many variables to consider as we attempt to navigate our health journeys.
@hermajesty26 did this help your DEXA score?