Osteoporosis

[Vivianne766]

I have been told that I have osteoporosis.
I'm scared. Not sure what to do. Just wanted to c what u guys think.
I'll be making an appointment with a specialist.
I don't trust them with the medication they suggest.
I'll also go to physical therapy.
I want to take this calcium plus and bone support supplement.
I also take iron once a week. And zinc + copper.
Can osteoporosis be reversed?

[THX1138]

Can osteoporosis be reversed?

I believe so, based on what I have heard from Dr. Ronald Hoffman on Health Talk.
One thing he mentioned was the use of strontium (citrate).

also:
http://www.thisisms.com/forum/post212755.html#p212755

[jimmylegs]

hi viv, got your note - yes i think so. careful with the calcium though. 'calcium plus' what?

here's one of many relevant studies out there:

Vitamin D insufficiency and the blunted PTH response in established osteoporosis: the role of magnesium deficiency
http://link.springer.com/article/10.100 ... 006-0084-3

intro: Vitamin D insufficiency is common, however within individuals, not all manifest the biochemical effects of PTH excess. This further extends to patients with established osteoporosis. The mechanism underlying the blunted PTH response is unclear but may be related to magnesium (Mg) deficiency.

methods: 30 patients (10 women in 3 groups) were evaluated prospectively measuring calcium, PTH, Mg retention (Mg loading test), dietary nutrient intake (calcium, vitamin D, Mg) and bone turnover markers (serum CTX & P1CP).

results: All subjects, within the low vitamin D and low PTH group following the magnesium loading test had evidence of Mg depletion ... Following oral supplementation bone turnover increased

conclusions: This study confirms that in patients with established osteoporosis, there is also a distinct group with a low vitamin D and a blunted PTH level and that Mg deficiency (as measured by the Mg loading test) is an important contributing factor.

remind me if you have levels posted anywhere or have sent me results previously?

[Vivianne766]

Thanks guys. Jim, my vit D level was 102 !!!
My calcium has 200 iu vit D
228 mg calcium as MCHC
119 mg Phosphorus as MCHC
1012 mg Microcrystalline Hydroxyapatite MCHC

I also take another supplement for bones that has:
Vit D 500 iu
Vit K 500 mcg
Berbenine HCI 90 mg
Reduced Iso-Alpha Acids Complex. 370 mg

[Vivianne766]

My neurologist wanted me to take calcium and fosomax.
I don't want to take fosomax since I still have anemia and teeth problems and
I just don't trust drugs.
But I don't want to get none fractures either at my age. I'm too young.

My test results showed I'm low on iron. Vit A. and Zinc.
I don't think I've been tested for Mg levels.
My vit D was 36. After I took iron pills to correct my anemia my hemoglobin went from 9.5 to 14 and my vit D from 36 to 102.
Interesting isn't it.

[lyndacarol]

Thanks guys. Jim, my vit D level was 102 !!!
My calcium has 200 iu vit D
228 mg calcium as MCHC
119 mg Phosphorus as MCHC
1012 mg Microcrystalline Hydroxyapatite MCHC

I also take another supplement for bones that has:
Vit D 500 iu
Vit K 500 mcg
Beebenine HCI 90 mg
Reduced Iso-Alpha Acids Complex. 370 mg

It is my understanding that vitamin D3, vitamin K2 (This is menaquinone-7; is this your form of vitamin K?), and magnesium are necessary for good bone health.

[want2bike]

Dr. Bergman does a good job of explaining osteoporosis. When you eat acid producing foods you will leach calcium from your bones. Start eating the organic fruits and vegetables which are alkaline and you will start building calcium in your bones. Your body is smart and will keep you healthy if you give it what it needs. Stop putting acid in your body such as sugar, meat, drugs and process foods and you will start building your bones again. Stop believing your doctor and start doing what it takes to build your bones.

[CureOrBust]

Look into Stontium, Magnesium and Vitamin K. As well; as the obvious Vit D and Calcium. There is also "Calcitrol" as far as medications go.

[jimmylegs]

hi vivianne!

with d3 at 102 nmol/L, that's a pretty good start. magnesium should help (you'll probably see d3 levels go up without changing your daily d3 dose).

you have an issue with iron as well is that right? is your ferritin still down in the single digits? if not corrected, taking calcium could make the iron situation worse. are you eating more iron rich foods, or taking iron pills in addition to the vit D/calcium/K etc regimen? if you are, you'll likely want to take a look at zinc and copper status also.

curious if you have any other blood tests on file? if not, can you give us a sense of your total daily food/fluid/supplement/medication regimen? that would at least help determine whether daily intakes were high enough. i reread some of what you posted on that last year, but an update would be great

with a better picture of the overall current scenario, we could start figuring out which dietary and supplement options could be beneficial

[Vivianne766]

Sounds good.
Here's what's going on with me.
Jim ur right I also have iron deficiency. I took iron tablets and brought up my ferritin from 4 up to 11.
I stopes the iron pill. I also have slight zinc sufficiency. Can't remember the number but a bit below the min. Now I have zinc/copper pills and iron pills(50 mg for iron)
and the calcium pills and multivit. Cz I was a little low on. It A too.
But I'm afraid to take these pills. I just take calcium in the morning and 1 multivit at. Lunch time.
I eat very little. But my food is usu organic. Vegies and rice.
No processed food.
I started eating goat cheese and a few times a week.
I eat bread few times a week too. It has pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds and bla bla bla.
It's delicious. I have little appetite. I know I should keep iron and calcium apart. I can't figure out how to incorporate all these supplements.
I also have coq10 and alpha lipoic acid.
They're all just sitting there.
I take B12 shots once a month.
I really appreciate your advice.

Smilie face for you my friends.

[lyndacarol]

I take B12 shots once a month.

Since you are in the US (western New York), monthly cyanocobalamin (a.k.a. cyano B12) is used for office IM injections. Methylcobalamin is available through a compounding pharmacist and, according to the book Could It Be B12?, methyl is more effective than cyano. Perhaps there is some way your doctor could use the methyl form of B12. I think you might see a big difference.

[Vivianne766]

Dr. Bergman does a good job of explaining osteoporosis. When you eat acid producing foods you will leach calcium from your bones. Start eating the organic fruits and vegetables which are alkaline and you will start building calcium in your bones. Your body is smart and will keep you healthy if you give it what it needs. Stop putting acid in your body such as sugar, meat, drugs and process foods and you will start building your bones again. Stop believing your doctor and start doing what it takes to build your bones.

This was a great video. Thank you so much.
I learned a lot and think I'm doing the right thing by staying away from the drugs and processed food.
;)

[Vivianne766]

I take B12 shots once a month.

Since you are in the US (western New York), monthly cyanocobalamin (a.k.a. cyano B12) is used for office IM injections. Methylcobalamin is available through a compounding pharmacist and, according to the book Could It Be B12?, methyl is more effective than cyano. Perhaps there is some way your doctor could use the methyl form of B12. I think you might see a big difference.

Oh ok. I'll see what I can find out.
Thanks.

[jimmylegs]

ok you're headed in generally the right direction. lots of status info, a few handy supplement products, sounds like pretty good stuff.

working on the zinc issue should help with appetite. and from there we can hope that the rest will start to improve more easily.

will you consider adding shellfish to your diet? a weekly serving of oysters and clams would help with your zinc and iron status.

oyster and clam chowder recipe http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=recipe&dbid=32

oyster nutrient breakdown (use the pulldown to change serving size to 85g) http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fin ... cts/4192/2
clam nutrient breakdown (defaults to 85g serving)
http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fin ... cts/4182/2

more zinc foods http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tnam ... #foodchart
more iron foods http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tnam ... #foodchart
(if you have red pepper with spinach and/or swiss chard, the high vit C in the red pep would help with iron absorption..)

can i ask what kind of rice you're eating? hopefully brown, for the nutrient density i like to mix brown and wild rice together - yum!
rice info http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tnam ... e&dbid=128

how do you feel about sweet potato? they would be a good addition to the routine, and would help a lot with vit A
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tnam ... nalprofile

smart to get some supplemental b12 if you're mostly eating just rice and veg! (when i was working on deficiency, i avoided the shots my naturopath was promoting, and went for sublingual methylcobalamin) you could also consider a weekly serving of wild salmon, to help with your b12 status (and omega 3s too!).

as for supplements. so you have the a multi, D3/K supplement, calcium, 50mg iron, and zinc/copper. as well as monthly b12, and the coQ10 and ALA

what are the amounts on the zinc/copper product? i don't suppose you have magnesium glycinate in the house at all?

here's a rotation to consider:
-zinc/copper and multi at breakfast
-d3 and magnesium glycinate (and calcium, if you must!) at lunch
-iron and vit C at dinner
-magnesium in the evening (if you choose magnesium citrate for this one, it may help mitigate any potential constipating influence of the iron pills)

hope that helps!

[Vivianne766]

Thanks jim. I forgot to mention meat. I do eat chicken and turkey.
I eat red meat once in a while.
I will include anything u say in my diet.
I used to eat sweet potatoe and coconut oil and pumpkin seeds for breakfast very often.
I eat white rice but it's organic.
I did not respond well to wild rice. I go into a food coma!!!
I can include brown rice. I thought I must have calcium in the morning on an empty stomach for better absorbtion. Is that true. I must have a small cup of black coffee with my breakfast ( no sugar) so I take my calcium 3 hrs later. But I am going to follow ur plan now.
The zinc /copper I have is :
Zinc 50mg
Copper 2 mg
It also has iodine 53mg