| Strontium is a dual-action agent that both reduces | | | | density and 8.3 percent increase in the femoral |
| bone resorption and increases high quality bone | | | | neck. A later study conducted over five years on |
| formation. One pharmaceutical company claims | | | | 5,000 women with osteoporosis found a 9.8% |
| that it could fundamentally change the treatment | | | | improvement in total hip density. |
| paradigm of patients with osteoporosis. | | | | CALCIUM AND VITAMIN D ARE ESSENTIAL |
| WHAT IS STRONTIUM? | | | | While strontium is clearly an outstanding form of |
| Strontium is one of the most abundant elements | | | | osteoporosis treatment, it only improves bone |
| on our planet. There is a higher percentage of | | | | health when combined with 1,500 mg of calcium |
| strontium in the earth's crust than carbon... and it | | | | and 800 IUs of vitamin D daily. To complicate |
| is the most abundant trace element in our oceans. | | | | things further, calcium supplements are best |
| Of special interest to people concerned about | | | | absorbed in 500 mg. increments and when taken |
| osteoporosis is that the human body contains | | | | with meals. Strontium, on the other hand, is most |
| approximately 320 mg. of strontium-most of | | | | effective when taken on an empty stomach (2-3 |
| which can be found in the bones and connective | | | | hours after a calcium supplement or meal) and |
| tissue. | | | | before going to bed. |
| Unlike the radioactive strontium-90 that | | | | Many people find this regime too demanding. In |
| contaminated our food and water after nuclear | | | | recognition of this, pharmaceutical companies have |
| weapon testing in the 50s, natural strontium has | | | | developed drugs that can be taken once a week |
| been used for osteoporosis treatment long | | | | and are now searching for a pill or injection that |
| before the pharmaceutical industry took an | | | | can be taken annually in a doctor's office. These |
| interest in bone health. | | | | solutions, however, are often accompanied by |
| WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH SAY? | | | | significant side effects. |
| Research has shown that strontium can make a | | | | For those who have the discipline and |
| significant contribution to bone health without any | | | | determination to take three pills a day....strontium |
| apparent side effects. From 2002 to 2007, the | | | | is an invaluable alternative for osteoporosis |
| French pharmaceutical company Servier | | | | treatment. It is also an affordable treatment, as a |
| conducted a study on 1,649 women with | | | | program of strontium citrate, calcium, vitamin D, |
| osteoporosis over a three year period and found | | | | magnesium and vitamin K can be purchased for |
| an increase of 14.4 percent in lumbar bone mineral | | | | less than $200 a year. |