Osteoporosis: A Comprehensive Guide to Beneficial Supplements

on Sep 07, 2023| Modified on Apr 16, 2024
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.

Stronium for Osteoporosis
Posted by Norma (NYC) on 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.


Stronium for Osteoporosis
Posted by Art (California) on 01/10/2024 2154 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


Stronium for Osteoporosis
Posted by JJ (El Paso ) on 01/10/2024 21 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.

Article Updates
Posted by Art (California) on 12/05/2023 2154 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


Article Updates
Posted by Lora (Arkansas) on 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.


Article Updates
Posted by RSW (OH) on 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.


Article Updates
Posted by RSW (OH) on 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!


Article Updates
Posted by Art (California) on 09/24/2023 2154 posts

RSW,

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

Art


Article Updates
Posted by Art (California) on 09/24/2023 2154 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


Article Updates
Posted by RSW (OH) on 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!


Article Updates
Posted by Art (California) on 09/09/2023 2154 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

Article Feedback
Posted by Laurie (Washington) on 09/08/2023

What do you mean adding boron?


Article Feedback
Posted by Laurie (Washington) on 09/08/2023

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


Article Feedback
Posted by Art (California) on 09/08/2023 2154 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


Article Feedback
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.

General Feedback
Posted by Joy. (France) on 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.


General Feedback
Posted by Deirdre (Earth Clinic) on 09/07/2023
★★★★★

Just posted!

https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/osteoporosis-supplements-art-solbrig.html

Thank you so much, Art!


Advertisement