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Osteoporosis: A Comprehensive Guide to Beneficial Supplements

on Sep 07, 2023| Modified on Nov 22, 2024
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Editor's Note: In this article, Art Solbrig delves deep into an evidence-based supplement regimen designed specifically to bolster the well-being of individuals grappling with osteoporosis. While Art has previously touched upon the advantages of melatonin for bone health, this piece takes a step further. Highlighting not just one, but several potential game-changers—magnesium, Vitamin K2, strontium citrate, boron, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin D—Solbrig paints a holistic picture of how these supplements can work in tandem to fortify bones and diminish fracture risks.

Previously, I discussed how melatonin is useful for Osteopenia and Osteoporosis here:

https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/melatonin-for-osteoporosis.html

This time, I would like to discuss more of a full regimen that a person with osteoporosis might consider to improve the response time and efficacy beyond what melatonin alone can do and potentially offer other health benefits. Since I have already discussed melatonin for osteoporosis, I won't include that information here, but just mention that anyone with osteoporosis should consider it.

I will be discussing the following supplements in relation to osteoporosis:

1. Magnesium

2. Vitamin K2

3. Strontium Citrate

4. Boron

5. Vitamin B6

6. Vitamin D

Melatonin would make seven, but I didn't write about that one, but rather linked to a previous article I wrote about melatonin  for osteoporosis and that link is just below the first sentence above.

Magnesium

Magnesium in many people tends to decline with age and osteoporosis is an age related disease. People with osteoporosis generally have lower levels of magnesium. Osteoporosis affects many more women than men with women accounting for approximately 80% of cases according to the following article :

https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/osteoporosis#:~:text=Osteoporosis affects more women than,or 80%) are women.&text=Women are more likely to get osteoporosis because:&text=Women usually have smaller, thinner, less dense bones than men.

A relevant study quote :

' Osteoporosis affects more women than men. Of the estimated 10 million Americans with osteoporosis, more than 8 million (or 80%) are women. '

In this study, it is shown that women with osteoporosis tend to have lower magnesium levels, and in this same category of women with low magnesium, lower bone mineral density and higher risk of fractures exist. :

 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8313472/

Here is a relevant quote :

' From the various studies carried out on the serum concentration of Mg and its relationship with the bone, it has been shown that lower values are related to the presence of osteoporosis, and that about 30–40% of the subjects analyzed (mainly menopausal women) have hypomagnesaemia. Various dietetic investigations have shown that many people (about 20%) constantly consume lower quantities of Mg than recommended; moreover, in this category, a lower bone mineral density and a higher fracturing risk have been found.  '

This next review and meta-analysis comparing multiple studies shows that higher magnesium levels increase bone mineral density in the femoral neck and hips :

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S8756328221003999

Here is a relevant quote :

' This systematic review indicates that a higher magnesium intake may support an increase in hip and femoral neck BMD. '

In the following study, dietary magnesium is suggested as an important preventative effect for Sarcopenia Osteoporosis as well as fractures :

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5707661/

Here is a relevant quote from the study :

' This study extends scientific knowledge in this area as it is the first to investigate the associations between intakes of Mg concurrently with measurements of bone and skeletal muscle health in middle and older aged men and women. This is important as these factors are associated with an increased risk of falls, frailty, sarcopenia, and fractures. Higher intakes of dietary Mg were positively associated with a greater grip strength, indices of skeletal muscle mass, and BMD in both men and women aged 39–72 years continuously across the distribution of intakes. '

So magnesium should definitely be part of an anti osteoporosis regimen.

Vitamin K2

This systematic review and meta analysis of multiple studies shows that vitamin K2 (VK2) indicates that VK2  improves bone mineral density (BMD) and bone strength.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9403798/

Here is a relevant quote from the systematic review and meta-analysis:

' The results of this meta-analysis seem to indicate that VK2 supplementation has a positive effect on the maintenance and improvement of BMD LS in postmenopausal women, and it can also reduce the fracture incidence, serum uc-OC levels and the ratio of uc-OC to cOC. In conclusion, VK2 can indirectly promote bone mineralization and increase bone strength. '

This next systematic review and meta-analysis adds further corroboration to the previous meta-analysis that Vitamin K2 increases bone mineral density (BMD) :

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35711002/

Here is a relevant quote from the meta-analysis:

'  This meta-analysis and systematic review seemed to support the hypothesis that vitamin K2 plays an important role in the maintenance and improvement of BMD, and it decreases uc-OC and increases OC significantly at a long-term follow-up. Vitamin K2 supplementation is beneficial and safe in the treatment of osteoporosis for postmenopausal women. '

So, this meta-analysis of many studies confirms that vitamin K2 is a good addition to an osteoporosis regimen. I use the form referred to as Vitamin K2 Menaquinone 7 or VK2M7, for short, and I order the higher dose that has either 200 mcg or 300 mcg.

Strontium Citrate

Strontium citrate (SC) is an over the counter supplement which is not to be confused with Strontium Ranelate (SR) a prescription drug used for osteoporosis in other countries than the US. In an animal study, SC was found to accumulate in the bones similarly to SR, which is a desirable feature in an over the counter supplement. The following study confirms this aspect of SC when compared to SR :

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22995463/

Here is a relevant study quote :

' Bone strontium levels in rats administered strontium citrate were significantly greater (p<0.05) than rats administered strontium ranelate and vehicle. ANCOVA analyses were performed with Sr dose as a covariate to account for differences in strontium dosing. The ANCOVA revealed differences in bone strontium levels between the strontium groups were not significant, but that bone strontium levels were still very significantly greater than vehicle. '

In the following study in osteoporotic women, it was shown that strontium can continue to accumulate in the ankle and finger bones for at least 4 years :

'  Furthermore, while it was previously reported by our group, that finger bone Sr levels may plateau within two years, these results suggest otherwise, indicating that bone Sr levels will continue to rise at both bone sites even after 4years of Sr intake.'

Boron

Next up is boron, as discussed in the following review of multiple studies suggests that boron is beneficial for bone health and maintain adequate bone mineral density (BMD) at very low dosing :

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0946672X20301425?via=ihub

Here is a relevant quote from this review of multiple studies :

' The studies considered in this narrative review have evaluated the positive effectiveness on bone, in humans, through control of calcium, vitamin D and sex steroid hormone metabolism, considering a dietary supplementation of 3 mg/day of boron (alone or with other nutrients); this supplementation is demonstrably useful to support bone health (in order to prevent and maintain adequate bone mineral density), also considering the daily dose of 3 mg is much lower than the Upper Level indicated by EFSA in the daily dose of 10 mg. '

This suggests that those of you who are already using borax for arthritis are very likely getting significantly more than enough boron to be beneficial for your bones.

The next boron study discusses some of the health benefits of boron which include increasing the absorption of magnesium which is very useful for improving bone health.

https://www.doctorfey.com/functional-medicine-holistic-health-blog/2021/3/15/boron-for-bone-health

Here is a relevant quote from the article :

' Magnesium is crucial for bone health. About 60 % of the magnesium present in the human body is found in the bone, where it acts as a cofactor for numerous enzymes that regulate the metabolism of calcium. Boron appears to significantly improve the absorption of magnesium and its deposition at the bone level. '

Vitamin B6 (P5P)

In this next study it is shown that when serum B6 drops below a certain level the risk of osteoporosis increases :

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6615830/

A relevant study quote :

' A relatively low serum Vit B6 concentration, even in the normal range, may be a risk factor for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, which is dependent on serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D concentration and parathyroid hormone concentration. '

In this next 2023 review of studies it is shown that men and women with higher intakes B6 levels had greater bone mineral density than people with lower intake of vitamin B6.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10346000/

Here is a relevant quote from the review of studies :

' Several previous studies have found that women with higher intakes of vitamin B6 have higher bone mineral density (BMD) of the hips and spine than women with lower intakes. Another study found that men and women with higher blood levels of vitamin B6 had higher BMD in the hips and spine. '

Vitamin D

Some of you probably wonder why I have not mentioned Vitamin D until now.

Although vitamin D is often thought of as essential for staving off osteoporosis, studies using vitamin D supplementation alone or measuring vitamin D levels in people with osteoporosis have not come to that conclusion, but some studies and articles mention vitamin D as beneficial for osteoporosis while offering no corroborating evidence to support that statement.

Many articles mention vitamin D as very beneficial for bone health, but when you review actual studies for vitamin D and osteoporosis, that claim is not so clear. I don't know the answer to that issue, but my thinking on vitamin D is that there are hundreds of studies extolling its health-promoting effects in humans, and for that reason alone, I believe Vitamin D is very beneficial for our overall health and should be taken as a supplement if getting sufficient sun exposure is not a practical option. Vitamin D is also thought to have synergy with many other supplements.

In one study, vitamin D was found to be synergistic with calcium citrate for osteoporosis, as discussed here, but the full study was behind a paywall :

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21405146/

Here is a relevant study quote :

' Calcium citrate formulations taken between meals may help to prevent abdominal distension and flatulence, as well as minimize the risk of renal calculus formation, thus helping to optimize patient compliance. Therefore, calcium citrate combined with vitamin D is the combination of choice for the prevention or treatment of osteoporosis. '

Synergy

In this final study, it is shown that some of these supplements may have synergy together. In this study they used Melatonin, Strontium Citrate, Vitamin D and Vitamin K2 (MSDK) in a one year study of women with osteopenia.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5310667/

I can see where adding magnesium,  boron and vitamin B6 to this combination may actually significantly improve it!

Here are some relevant study quotes :

'  These findings provide both clinical and mechanistic support for the use of MSDK for the prevention or treatment of osteopenia, osteoporosis or other bone-related diseases. '

' MSDK increases serum bone formation markers in postmenopausal osteopenic women. '
' MSDK increases melatonin-sulfate levels in postmenopausal osteopenic women. '
' MSDK increases osteoblastogenesis and decrease osteoclastogenesis in co-cultures of hMSCs and hPBMCs. '

' In our study, osteopenic women taking MSDK for one year had a significant improvement in their left femoral neck and lumbar spine BMD and demonstrated a lower risk for a major osteoporotic fracture risk compared to women taking placebo. This is consistent with previous studies that demonstrate an increased BMD using melatonin alone. '

Dosing

Your doctor's approval and monitoring are required for all of these to ensure they are compatible with all meds you are taking. Do not attempt this regimen without your doctor's approval. I just discussed this with a friend who is taking a similar regimen for osteoporosis because her doctor wanted her to take regular injections for osteoporosis, but she was unable to give herself the injections out of fear. Her doctor approved her supplement regimen and told her she would monitor her progress at regular intervals, and she didn't have to take the injections. I consider her doctor to be very progressive.

1. Magnesium - Total intake to 360 mg/day to start

2. Vitamin K2M7 - Total intake 200 mcg or if your doctor approves, 400 mcg total intake.

3. Strontium Citrate - 680 mg/day total with doctor approval

4. Boron - 20 mg/day to start up to 40 mg/day if your doctor approves

5. Vitamin B6 As P5P - 50 mg/day up to 100mg/day if your doctor approves

6. Vitamin D - Whatever it takes to get into the upper half of the reference range with your doctor's approval and monitoring. 

Conclusion

So, the above supplements should be very beneficial for people with osteopenia or osteoporosis, and they should also have some synergy with each other. Generally, it can take 9 months to a year to start getting measurable improvement in bone mineral density (BMD) tests, so this is not an overnight fix, but a healthful one and this combination of supplements is likely to offer other health benefits at the same time.

Art

Questions and Comments

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About The Author

Art Solbrig is a researcher who has been reading scientific studies and testing natural remedies for over 30 years searching for useful studies and alternatives that apply positively to human health issues and natural treatments using minerals, vitamins, amino acids, essential oils, herbs, homeopathy, colloidal silver, combination treatments and other alternatives to improve the quality of life of others by writing about his findings and test results in places like Earth Clinic. He documents and writes about many of his experiences in helping others. Art is a native of sunny California.

Related Links:

Natural Osteoarthritis Relief: Holistic Remedies Guide
Osteoporosis and Melatonin

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
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1 User Review
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Posted by BChristine (Delaware) on 09/07/2023
 ★★★★★

Great article - thank you. I am glad you did not mention calcium as a supplement ... it is best to get this from natural food sources like organic grass-fed yogurt, sardines and sockeye salmon with bones and skin, cottage cheese, grass-fed cheese, bok choy and broccoli.

Adding Boron to the supplements mentioned really seemed to make a difference for me. Vit K2 along with Vit D is critical to shuttle calcium to the proper areas, otherwise you are risking calcification of the arteries.

Replied by Art
(California)
09/08/2023
2341 posts

BChristine,

Thank you very much for the thoughtful words of appreciation!

Yes, I completely agree, in most cases sufficient calcium should be gotten from food and many supplements are simply too much. I don't think the body is designed to handle such large amounts of calcium in such a short period of time as a calcium supplement is likely to deliver. That's why I did not list calcium on the list of potential osteoporosis supplements.

The hard part with osteoporosis is it takes roughly 9 months to a year to see measurable benefit from supplements or medications.

Art

Replied by Laurie
(Washington)
09/08/2023

Yes, but strontium is questionable. If it is sprayed in the sky, why would it be in a supplement?

Replied by Laurie
(Washington)
09/08/2023

What do you mean adding boron?

Replied by Casting Out Nines
(Montreal)
11/21/2024

Be careful with canned fish that hasn't been deboned. Fish bones concentrate naturally-occurring fluoride from the ocean. A study of goosander (wild ducks) at an estuary in Poland found that these birds, whose natural diet is entirely composed of fish, had extraordinary quantities of fluoride in their brains and pineal glands.

Dairy and homemade bone broth are much safer sources of calcium.

Article Updates

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Posted by Art (California) on 09/09/2023 2341 posts
 ★★★★★

I am posting this as an update to the recent article on osteoporosis (9/7/23). I forgot to include one supplement that I had on my list for the article and am adding another supplement. By adding these two supplements, it gives the readers more choices in case any of the supplements cause unwanted side effects, you will have the option to replace it.

Berberine

The supplement I forgot is Berberine, which has, in recent studies, suggested benefit for bone regeneration in osteoporosis as discussed in the following link :

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874121004761?via=ihub

Here is a relevant quote from the review :

  • ' Berberine has a long history of medicinal use to treat various diseases including bone disease in China. Recent studies have defined its function in promoting bone regeneration and great potential in developing new drugs. '

Berberine is generally found in 500 mg capsules and is often used at 1000 to 1500 mg/day in divided doses.

Selenium

The second supplement is Selenium and selenium has shown that higher levels in the body are associated with improved bone mineral density (BMD) and lower levels of selenium are associated with increased risk for osteoporosis as discussed here in this 2023 meta analysis of multiple studies. Selenium supplements are generally available in 200 mcg capsules and Selenomethionine is considered to be a good form :

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10322231/

Here is a relevant quote from the meta analysis :

' From 748 non-duplicate publications, 19 studies were included. We found a significantly positive association between dietary selenium intake (β = 0.04,95% confidence interval (CI) 0.00 to 0.07, p = 0.029) as well as serum selenium (β = 0.13,95% CI 0.00 to 0.26, p = 0.046) and BMD. Consistently, those with higher selenium intake had a lower risk of OP (OR = 0.47,95% CI 0.31 to 0.72, p = 0.001), and patients with OP had a significantly lower level of serum selenium than healthy controls (WMD = -2.01,95% CI -3.91 to -0.12, p = 0.037). High dietary selenium intake was associated with a lower risk of hip fracture (OR = 0.44,95% CI 0.37 to 0.52, p < 0.001). '

So the addition of these two supplements can potentially be additive to the original supplements and can offer alternate choices for a person who does not tolerate a supplement from the original list.

Here is the new complete list of supplements :

1. Magnesium

2. Vitamin K2

3. Strontium Citrate

4. Boron

5. Vitamin B6

6. Vitamin D

7. Berberine

8. Selenium

9. Melatonin

Art

Replied by RSW
(OH)
09/24/2023

Hi Art,

I have been going around in circles for the past month or more, trying to focus and get an order ready for Amazon of the bone supplements you suggest. I have read and re-read the various articles, but have been unable to create a list. I was also thinking of adding silica to the list to aid in bone repair since I am warned at every Rheumatologist visit that my right hip is in bad shape and the rest aren't good, either. I have put off taking the daily injections of chemicals for bone density that the doctor wants me to take. I have been pre-occupied with finding some natural relief for this multi-site, multi kinds of Arthritis, but after 2 1/2 years of trying whatever I can think of or read about with little relief, I am actually considering taking Methotrexate, although I loathe the thought, and this will not address the poor bone density. If I am reading and interpreting your suggestions for bone density supplements correctly ( and with this monkey-mind, (no offense to monkeys), I can't focus nor remember much.) Here is what I have so far-

1) Magnesium 300 mg/day

2) K2 200 - 300, mcg's/ day, Menaquinone 7

3) Strontium Citrate 450 mg. (Not sure about a poster's comment about not taking this).

4) Boron 20 mg/day

5) B6 as P5P, 50mg/day

6) Vit D3

7) Berberine 500 mg capsule, 1000/day

8) Selenium Selenomethonine 200 mg.

9) Melatonin - for me, up to 30mg/night seems like a good number.

10) Silica - supposedly helps with bone repair - I was thinking of adding this.

I would like to send my order in soon so I can get started repairing these bones. Do you see anything that doesn't look right on the list or anything I have forgotten?

Thank you for putting this all together, Art, with the vast amount of research you have posted. I don't know how I ended up with these bones and arthritis, always being active, doing yoga and cleaning the house and working in the yard, but I am so grateful for this advice. Thank you so much! Take care!

Art
(California)
09/24/2023
2341 posts

Hi RSW,

It's been a minute!

Your list looks good, but I would not start those all at once. I like the vitamin D which is generally well tolerated and similarly, magnesium in a more bioavailable form. Vitamin K2 is generally well tolerated also at that dose. Definitely the boron unless you are already taking borax for arthritis, in which case you are already getting the boron. Selenium is also generally well tolerated. If you are already taking melatonin at that dose range, great. I would consider adding Berberine and the others a little later if you tolerate the ones I mentioned above. Give it a year and let us know how you do.

Art

Art
(California)
09/24/2023
2341 posts

RSW,

I forgot to mention that the boron may help with your arthritis.

Art

RSW
(OH)
09/27/2023

Family members remind me that I have had arthritis for 1.5 years, not 2.5 years. I think that is good news and hope to get my memory back if I can ever stop this and get back to no pain and swelling everywhere. Best wishes to all the wonderful people on this site, and thank you, Diedra for creating this site.

Replied by RSW
(OH)
09/25/2023

Thank you, Art. You are a blessing to everyone on this site!

I also wanted to thank you for posting about not drinking large amounts of green tea. I had always thought it was so good for you, that you could drink as many cups as you wanted. Now I limit it to one cup per day, or less, and drink black or herbal tea instead. Good to know!

Replied by Lora
(Arkansas)
12/05/2023
7 posts

My primary doctor just called and said I had osteoporosis and suggested I take 1200 mg of calcium plus D3. I immediately looked up Art's recommendation and found no calcium (which I had stopped taking about 6 mos ago due to my belief too much deposits into arteries).

  • I read with glee of no calcium. I take magnesium glycinate 133 mg three or four times daily to control my fibromyalgia. I take 5-10k D3 and it has controlled my arthritis immensely. Is this the right magnesium?

I am a 78 yr old female and felt 42 until my PAD attacked beyond chelation and began stent surgery as posted earlier probably because of my love for ff, BLT and ice cream.

I am so thankful I found Earth Clinic and its common sense and researched support. I have a logical brain and the drs will never talk me into statins.

Sorry so many illnesses and questions. I hope I have made sense. I plan on living to at least 100 in good health.

Art
(California)
12/05/2023
2341 posts

Hi Lora,

Magnesium glycinate is what I use and is considered to be one of the bioavailable forms of magnesium. Topical magnesium chloride spray is additive to the magnesium glycinate for fibromyalgia.

PAD is considered a form of atherosclerosis, so you may be interested in this:

https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/high-dose-nattokinase-for-atherosclerosis.html

Art

Replied by Art
(California)
04/16/2024
2341 posts
★★★★★

Just wanted to give an update to this article with this new study (April 2024) that adds a bit more confirmatory data and mechanisms of action to the idea that melatonin is useful for osteoporosis :

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38618998/

Here is a relevant study quote :

' Notably, MLT significantly increased the production of short-chain fatty acids and decreased trimethylamine N-oxide-related metabolites. Importantly, MLT could modulate the dynamic balance of M1/M2 macrophages, reduce the serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and restore gut-barrier function. Taken together, our results highlighted the important roles of gut microbially derived MLT in OP progression via the "gut-bone" axis associated with SCFA metabolism, which may provide novel insight into the development of MLT as a promising drug for treating OP. '

Art

General Feedback

2 User Reviews
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Posted by Deirdre (Earth Clinic) on 09/07/2023
 ★★★★★

Replied by Joy.
(France)
09/07/2023
★★★★★

I'll second that!

Thank you Art and all who run Earth clinic, it's a wonderful site. I am very grateful.

Osteoporosis Supplements

Posted by MissM (NY) on 09/07/2023

This is a complex subject.

AVOID STRONTIUM IT SKEWS DEXA SCAN AND GIVES YOU FALSE DENSITY INCREASES.

DO NOT TAKE CALCIUM SUPPLEMENTS. THEY LAND IN HEART.

ONLY CALCIUM FROM FOOD AND GET CALCIUM LEVELS CHECKED BY DOCTOR.

YOU MUST TAKE K2, VITAMIN D, MINERALS AND BORON AND EAT NATURAL FOOD SOURCE CALCIUM

What is cause of osteoporosis?

Lack of estrogen and minerals depletion.

Read The Calcium Lie

Read about dexa scans

Read about big pharma drugs

Lots of informative books on Amazon.

Go to gym and build bone, use a weight belt.

Stronium for Osteoporosis

Posted by JJ (El Paso ) on 01/10/2024 24 posts

Hi Art! Thank you for your article!

Just wanted to give feedback regarding stronium. I had recently tried a new calcium supplement that among other things like boron and vitamin K2 included strontium citrate. After a few days of not feeling quite right, I took a deeper look at the feedback and reviews on the supplement I was taking. One person warned that the strontium in the product is quite dangerous and suggested that one do their own research on strontium before taking this supplement... While I found other articles starting the dangers of various forms of stronium, here is a link to an article that I found by the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation warning of the dangers of stronium :

https://americanbonehealth.org/medications-bone-health/why-strontium-is-not-advised-for-bone-health/

I don't know if that was the cause of my malaise but I did feel better after I quit taking the supplement.

Replied by Art
(California)
01/10/2024
2341 posts

Hi JJ,

The article you referenced is using strontium ranelate, which is known to have bad effects in humans, as a representative for strontium citrate, but they are not the same and they are not comparable. They present zero evidence against strontium citrate, but rather use the known negative effects of strontium ranelate and try to imply that strontium citrate may have similar negative effects. They go on to say that, ' Strontium citrate and strontium chloride are supplements and are not tested or regulated by the Food and Drug Administrations (FDA). You do not know the effectiveness of the supplements. You do not know what amounts your body is getting when you take these supplements. You also do not know whether they can seriously harm you. '

All of that quote is meaningless and shows that they did not do their research. Based on that quote, they are basically saying if it is not FDA approved, then you don't know if it is dangerous for you or not. Using that logic, then no supplement is safe for us to take, since supplements are not FDA approved the way drugs are. They present zero actual scientific evidence to support their contention that you shouldn't take strontium citrate, other than the fear tactic of saying, " you don't know if it may harm you". Instead of making such a baseless claim, they should have presented scientific evidence to support such a claim, but they did not.

If you read the very fine print at the top of their page, this organization, BHOF, has only been in existence since October, 2023. The article appears to have been written by somebody named Pat FitzGerald, but gives no further details on who this person is or their background.

In contrast, the following double blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) gives scientific evidence that strontium citrate when used with melatonin, vitamin D3 and vitamin K2M7 is helpful for improving osteopenia and preventing osteoporosis :

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5310667/

Here is a relevant quote from the RCT :

' These findings provide both clinical and mechanistic support for the use of MSDK(melatonin, strontium citrate, vitamin D and Vitamin K2) for the prevention or treatment of osteopenia, osteoporosis or other bone-related diseases.'

The following is a list of the affiliations of the researchers who participated in the above study :

  • 1Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University School of Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA.
  • 2Functional Medicine, Heart Preventics, LLC, Sequim, WA 98382, USA.
  • 3Enderby Healthcare/Legal Consulting, LLC, Pittsburgh, PA 15102, USA.
  • 4Department of Mathematics, Duquesne University School of Liberal Arts, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA.
  • 5Mayo Clinic, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.

Art

Replied by Norma
(NYC)
01/13/2024

Pharmacogenetics is the branch of pharmacology that examines the relation of genetic factors to variations in response to drugs (supplements, vaccines).

Listen to your body. What is beneficial for one could be harmful for another. Try to reduce the dose or stop the supplement for few days. Repeat. You then will know if the supplement is good for you.

Supplement Tips

Posted by Shaz (UK) on 02/12/2024

I have recently been diagnosed with osteoporosis and I am looking to start Art's recommendations (supplements) to try and manage and hopefully improve my bone health. For reference I have copied the supplements Art recommends below and I have already purchased these:

Magnesium, K2M7, Strontium Citrate, Boron and P5P. I also would like to take D3 and B12. I have also been taking 20 mcg of melatonin for the last few months and intend to continue doing so.

My query is that would rather space these supplements out through the day as I am currently suffering with what I believe is GERD (undiagnosed) but understand that some of these supplements have to be taken alongside another for it to be effective. Can anyone provide any advice on which of these supplements have to be taken together so I can better determine how to space them out please?

I hope I have explained this properly and that someone can assist me. Many thanks in advance.

Replied by Art
(California)
02/12/2024
2341 posts

Hi Shaz,

The important part is that the supplements are available in the body to be used for the purpose each day.

The vitamin D and vitamin K2M7 are fat soluble and can be stored in the body. The melatonin dose you are describing (20 mcg) is not even one fourth of a milligram and is very low and of little value at that dose for the purpose. It looks like you are in the UK and I recently posted a link to a place in the UK where you can purchase melatonin powder in bulk for possibly making the melatonin lotion which I think might be more useful than oral melatonin for the purpose you have in mind. Here is that link :

https://www.earthclinic.com/supplements/topical-melatonin-pain-relief-success-stories2.html#uk_205232

The other supplements only need to be available in the body so that they can interact in the body for the desired purpose.

If you are correct that your gut issue is GERD, oral melatonin has shown some benefit for alleviating GERD as discussed here :

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2821302/#:~:text=Conclusion, relieving epigastric pain and heartburn.

Here is a relevant quote from the human study :

' We used an oral fast release melatonin at a dose of 3 mg/day for 4 and 8 weeks. Werbach [24] found that melatonin up to 6 mg at bedtime may be an effective treatment for GERD with fewer and less serious adverse effects. It was found that treatment of GERD with melatonin, omeprazole or both was duration dependent. Patients treated with melatonin for four weeks and patients treated with omeprazole for four weeks showed incomplete improvement of GERD symptoms. These findings are in agreement with Gavert and Harvey [25]. Moreover, in patients treated with melatonin for eight weeks and patients treated with melatonin and omeprazole for four weeks, there was complete improvement of GERD symptoms as heartburn and epigastric pain. These findings were in agreement with Pereira [26] who reported that dietary supplementation containing melatonin and L-tryptophan, which is a substrate for melatonin biosynthesis in patients with GERD, resulted in remarkable remission of GERD symptoms in the majority of treated patients. '

In the study that used MDSK combination, I think it would still have been been effective if given individually at various times of the day, but it seems that treating and resolving the GERD first is very important as a first step, because people with GERD have lower levels of melatonin compared to non GERD controls. This could be a contributing factor to the osteoporosis.

Art

Replied by Art
(California)
02/12/2024
2341 posts

I forgot to mention, Shaz, that people with GERD who use proton pump inhibitors (PPI's), which is very typical for people with GERD, are at increased risk for osteoporosis.

Art

Replied by Shaz
(UK)
02/13/2024

Art, thank you for your response and information. I noticed I had written 20 mcg of Melatonin...I apologise this was a typo. It is actually 20 mg of Melatonin.

I was wondering whether the Gerd may be a contributing factor for the Osteoporosis (malnutrition/malabsorption). Unfortunately, the medical system here in the UK does not seem to be in any rush to give me any tests regardless of how often I push...but anyway that's another story. Thanks again Art.


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