Strontium citrate, fractures and lack of research

Totally agree. Stay away from Strontium. Your post puts it clearly, so thank you! I think many of us are obssessed with the T-Score. It's just a number and the cut-offs for osteopenia and osteoporosis were conjured up in the '90s by imperfect humans. Read Lani Simpson's book, "Lani's No-Nonsense Bone Health Guide" for info on this. What matters is your fracture risk, not your T-score. My T-score is -2.5 BUT my FRAX score (fracture risk) is excellent. Google and you'll find a way to calculate that. I have a very good trabecular bone score (TBS, which is, unfortunately, not done by many labs and docs, but luckily I have access to that.) I attribute my high score to rigorous diet and exercise. Turns out, with my TBS (trabecular bone score) my risk of fracture is extremely low. Yet with the -2.5 T-Score all the docs want me on bisphosphonates which don't agree with me. We all need more of the whole picture, not just a T-score.

Hi
Wondering if anyone has tried this supplement for osteoporosis or osteopenia?
Have been reading up on it. Tired of doing infusions that make me feel horrible.

Hi
Wondering if anyone has tried this supplement for osteoporosis or osteopenia?
Have been reading up on it. Tired of doing infusions that make me feel horrible.

Since this question has repeatedly been discussed on the forum, and I have found no independent, scientific, peer reviewed study of Algaecal to give you as a reference, I went on a deep dive into the research of Strontium and its bone-building mechanism.
I found two very recent, apparently independent studies of how strontium is used by the body.

The first, "The Influence of Strontium on Bone Tissue Metabolism and Its Application in Osteoporosis Treatment" (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8235140/ ) provided the following details:
"The recommended dose for treatment of osteoporosis is 2 g of strontium ranelate daily, taken as an oral suspension [40]. In clinical trials, the above dose was used for three years, and in follow-up studies, long-term results were noted after treatment lasting 5 to 10 years [41]. Strontium ranelate was, at one point, withdrawn from treatment due to reports of serious side effects. Information has emerged about the growth of cardiovascular risk and non-fatal myocardial infarctions. Recently, the EMA (European Medicines Agency) has issued an overview of how strontium ranelate can be used with many restrictions on its use..."

The conclusion by these scientists: "The mechanism of action of strontium is still not fully understood, which is a significant problem in modern science. However, the research that has been conducted to date has brought us closer to understanding the mechanism by which strontium ions work in the bone formation process. It seems that administering Sr locally can be very effective, with fewer side effects than systemic administration, and it can significantly improve the osseointegration of bone implants."

Later in the article they add: "Orally administered strontium ranelate does not significantly affect bone formation in vivo because it does not reach a sufficient concentration near this tissue, assuming a standard drug supply and a normal calcium-rich diet."

The takeaway - high doses of strontium, 2 grams per day in oral suspension, provided good benefits, but not without significant risks. Research continues...

A new article : https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167732224000151 - is a PRELIMINARY study of how to influence the uptake of strontium at the cellular level in humans

So, what about AlgaeCal & it's companion Strontium Boost?
The basic AlgaeCal supplement contains Calcium from algae, magnesium, vitamin D3 and a trace of strontium along with a number of other trace minerals. (https://www.algaecal.com/products/algaecal-basic/) AlgaeCal Strontium Boost contains 680 mg of strontium in capsule form, to be taken once a day. That is one-third the amount in the study referenced above, and not a liquid suspension.

The bottom line -
There is developing evidence that the form of calcium in red algae (algas calcareas) and other forms are more "bio-available" than calcium carbonate and calcium citrate.

Strontium still raises big questions because consuming large amounts can have side effects.

Only you can decide whether the price tag on the AlgaeCal products are worthwhile for you - I think there company offers a money-back guarantee with certain limitations. Or whether you can find other less expensive algae-based supplements that have been tested for purity.

Hi
Wondering if anyone has tried this supplement for osteoporosis or osteopenia?
Have been reading up on it. Tired of doing infusions that make me feel horrible.

I have been taking it for a few months. My dexa scans were dismal. Really bad. I should be on medication but everytime I got on a med (Prolia, Forteo,..) I had intollerable side effects. Shortly after getting off, I broke bones. Each time, I lost more bone. After getting off Forteo I lost another full 10% on top of already really bad scores. My doctor yells at me and demands I start Tymlos, which I'm told by another doctor is worse. And the yelling doctor tells me it's a life long committment because you can never just stop without starting something new. So far, every new thing is worse than the one before. So I started taking Strontium. I haven't had a bone scan and won't for many months BUT very quickly after starting I noticed my bone pain was gone! And I felt more steady/stable. Don't know why. Everytime I get off for a bit the pain and unsteadiness returns. My main side effects have been sinus problems (headache) and difficulty breathing (huffing and puffing). That came down to a kidney issue because I do have kidney disease, but I'm a rebel. What can I say. To me, it's mostly worth it and I believe it works. We will see. I do feel a lot stronger on it.

It will be at least 6 months or more before I have another scan, and honestly, I'm not sure how long I'll be able to tolerate the side effects of the strontium. It's affecting my memory too. And the sinus headaches are becoming too much BUT I may just cut the dose in half. There is still a lot of evidence that doses even as low as 200 mg a day are effective. Right now I'm taking 680. We'll see. If I stay on it I will come back and post my scan results. In the meantime, take good care of yourself! We are on a terribly perrilous path! I am convinced that if pharmaceutical company R&D departments were filled with women over 60, osteoporosis would be cured by now! And the treatments wouldn't be torturous! Wishing you health and to feel much better soon!

I have been taking it for a few months. My dexa scans were dismal. Really bad. I should be on medication but everytime I got on a med (Prolia, Forteo,..) I had intollerable side effects. Shortly after getting off, I broke bones. Each time, I lost more bone. After getting off Forteo I lost another full 10% on top of already really bad scores. My doctor yells at me and demands I start Tymlos, which I'm told by another doctor is worse. And the yelling doctor tells me it's a life long committment because you can never just stop without starting something new. So far, every new thing is worse than the one before. So I started taking Strontium. I haven't had a bone scan and won't for many months BUT very quickly after starting I noticed my bone pain was gone! And I felt more steady/stable. Don't know why. Everytime I get off for a bit the pain and unsteadiness returns. My main side effects have been sinus problems (headache) and difficulty breathing (huffing and puffing). That came down to a kidney issue because I do have kidney disease, but I'm a rebel. What can I say. To me, it's mostly worth it and I believe it works. We will see. I do feel a lot stronger on it.

@surah05 did you stop Prolia without a follow up drug? My docs and every resource, book, video I have seen says that stopping Prolia causes a rebound with drop in bone density and dramatic rise in fracture risk. I have seen some scary statistics. I have not done Prolia myself so don't have any experience.

Strontium will distort your DEXA scan because strontium replaces calcium and is denser. Some radiologists have a formula to fix this distortion but I don't know how many in the field do this.

I have trouble with meds and foods and tried for years to get on meds. Tymlos was my godsend. The injection pen is adjustable and so you can start at a low dose and move up as your body adjusts. I got up to 70mcg out of 80 for full dose and had impressive gains.

I have a lot of spinal fractures so I post here because the effects of fracture in terms of pain and disability make side effects that I have suffered look like a picnic! My fractures happened at a time when I was feeling fine and three in one moment. Unfortunately osteoporosis is symptomless.