July 11, 2006
DEXA T-Scores After Strontium Citrate
Thought I would post the results of my latest DEXA bone density scan. Good and bad news. Here are my T-scores for 4 different scans over the last 5 years......
Spine:
-2.7 (2001)
-3.1 (2002)
-3.1 with Advacal (2004)
-2.8 with Advacal and strontium (2006)
Femur:
-3.2 (2001)
-2.2 (2002)
-1.9 with Advacal (2004)
-2.3 with Advacal and strontium (2006)
So the spine got better and the femur got a worse since the last scan (third). But overall since the first scan I’m pretty much holding my own from where I started with the spine, and the femur has gone from osteoporosis to osteopenia.
I do have to say that I have only been taking the strontium correctly for a few months. I knew not to take it with calcium, but thought you were supposed to take it with meals. Not correct. I was taking it away from calcium supplements but with meals, and probably was not getting all the benefits. I only corrected it in the last few months and have been doing it in the morning an hour before breakfast. Dr.Hoffman (below) says take it at night so I may switch to that. (Always take more calcium than strontium.)
I really hoped for and expected better results, but am going to continue to take it. (If I had gotten these results after knowing that I had taken it correctly the whole time, I might have decided to quit.) Also there is no acceptable alternative for me now that the Fosamax and related drug stories are out about the jaw necrosis problem.
Dr. Ronald Hoffman: "Strontium is available as strontium carbonate, strontium chloride, strontium sulfate, strontium gluconate and strontium citrate. In clinical research strontium gluconate was absorbed better than strontium carbonate. It is my clinical opinion that strontium citrate is absorbed better than the other forms of this mineral. Remember that strontium is very closely related to calcium. They both utilize the same carrier protein for transport. Calcium will win this tug of war effortlessly. The take home message is to take strontium 4 hours away from calcium (preferably other minerals as well) before bed. Currently, I dose strontium at 681mg in one dose prior to bed (each strontium citrate capsule contains 227mg of pure strontium citrate = 3 capsules) on an empty stomach (defined as 2 hours after a meal)." (drhoffman.com)
Note: I'm contributing to the new Got Bones blog if you want more information about bone health.
Posted by laura on July 11, 2006 7:26 PM
Comments
I had low scan scores several years ago. A year of nasal spray did not help much. Five years of Fosamax brought me to normal readings.(along with more exercise, other vitamins)for four years. Reduced Fosamax to 35mg and had normal readings. Quit Fosamax several months ago and just now found out about strontium citrate. Really excited to learn that perhaps I can protect my bones with a much less dangerous drug. Just starting on it now. Will anxiously await next bone scan.
Posted by: Shirley Weathers at September 15, 2006 9:30 PM
just started taking strontium this month, the citrate. Looking forward to good results
Posted by: tomatojuice at September 24, 2006 11:49 AM
i'm taking strontium citrate (doctor's best). could you set my mind at rest and assure me that there are no traces of metal in this product? i've read that what i'm taking each day is a stable mineral -- not to be confused with the radioactive form. is there a connection between strontium citrate and the radioactive form?
many thanks.
Posted by: lynn koyen at June 29, 2007 7:00 AM
Can you really have faith that Stronium alone will get your BMD back to a normal state?
MY BMD's are about the same as yours. I find it very hard to know what to do. I've tried Actonel for the last 5 years but my BMD just dropped a little this year. The scare about the jawbone thing has to do with people getting teeth extracted and the bones not healing up properly. I think it's when they also have other conditions going on. Regardless I've always questioned whether Actonel or Fosamax are really healthy, or if they simply make a person retain old unhealthy bone that is brittle.
Posted by: Pam at July 17, 2007 4:23 PM
Can one continue taking the weekly dose of Fosamax (70mg) as well as Strontium Citrate? Or is it one or the other only?
Posted by: Adrienne at September 17, 2007 10:36 AM
I would check out the Got Bones blog and Fosamax side effects to see if you really want to continue to take Fosamax.
Posted by: sharon at September 17, 2007 1:28 PM
I have taken 1 cycle of Dodrocal, and want to know if I should renew it, or start taking Strontium citrate. Does anyone know why the Canadian and American Food and Drug administrations will not approve Protelos (Strontim Ranelate) which European women use?
Posted by: Cheryl at December 2, 2007 10:56 AM
Where can I purchase the SR citrate caps? I tried my local 'nautral" food store and they did not have it. Would Whole Foods carry them? I live in Brooklyn, NY. Thanks and Happy New Year.
Posted by: Ce at December 28, 2007 7:28 AM
You can purchase strontium citrate at tahoma-clinic.com. It's called Strontium Support.
Posted by: Laura at December 28, 2007 9:33 PM
I, too, am trying the strontium citrate (Strontium Boost) I also take AlgaeCal. I have tried Evista, Actonel and Fosamax & I keep losing bone. While on the Fosamax, I experienced heartburn and hot flashes, so the doctor wanted me to take more pills to counter-act these side effects. I am also looking for a new doctor! Good luck to everyone taking the strontium citrate!
Posted by: Liz at March 7, 2008 9:07 AM
I would be cautious of strontium because it's side effects to do with blood clots (of which i'm prone and also can result in DEATH!!!) is around the same rate as getting ONJ with fosamax-just check the side effects of strontium with any search site. Also if you read the strontium PI it makes it looks like you increase bone but mostly that's just the heavy metal absorbing the DXA rays (bone mineral density)that are used - it doesn't have enough evidence for me to be comfortable in taking it, plus i've heard its not great to take - a bit gritty. I'm sticking with my fosamax because i know its been on the market for so long-and only in the last few years had found that its a risk factor for ONJ- who knows when strontium will discover this?? They already have worse side effects, i'm worried that it will also have ONJ as its side effect! Only a matter of time...i wouldn't risk it...
Posted by: marnie at March 31, 2008 11:53 PM