OsteoValin for Bone Health

My integrative med doc just mentioned it to me this week.  He said that if I started having issues with osteopenia or osteoporosis that he would recommend it

As Fosamax(R) Fears Grow, Sales of New Bone Health Compound, OsteoValin(TM), Soar

What do you do when your doctor tells you not to take Fosamax or Boniva(R) because of possible side effects? SALT LAKE CITY, June 27 /PRNewswire/ -- An estimated 24 million prescriptions were written last year for "bone health" drugs including the two most popular, Fosamax(R) and Boniva(R). But as Business Week recently reported, more than 70% of patients concerned about bone health stop taking the drugs during the first 12 months of treatment because side effects (potentially serious side effects can include esophageal bleeding, heartburn, ulcers and osteonecrosis of the jaw -- also known as "dead jaw"). Even worse for these international drug giants, you can't turn on a TV without seeing an ad from some lawyer actively seeking "victims" of bone health drugs... increasing Fosamax fears. So what do you do when your doctor tells you to stop taking Fosamax, Boniva or any of the other bisphosphonates (and, as the medical community knows, calcium alone is not enough)? Well... the winner in this bone-health controversy is The Carter-Reed Company(TM), the makers of OsteoValin(TM), the new, all natural, non-drug compound that is currently being touted as "the" bone health breakthrough. "We were lucky enough to hit the market at the right time," says Carter-Reed spokesperson, Heather Hurst. "We had no idea that so many women were unable to take Fosamax and Boniva. Frankly, OsteoValin sales were rather slow until the Fosamax controversy began to heat up and doctors began inquiring about the research supporting OsteoValin's safety and efficacy. Now, OsteoValin is flying off the shelves at Wal-Mart, Walgreen's, CVS, Rite-Aid and, of course, GNC Nutrition Centers. We've even had inquiries from doctors as far away as England, Germany, France and Australia. And for good reason." Michael Levine, MD, of the Cleveland Clinic explains: "Reduced bone mass is a serious, serious problem. In fact, women can start losing bone mass after age 30. At age 50, one-third of women and one-fifth of men will be at risk of sustaining an osteoporotic fracture over the rest of their lifetime. Importantly, many of these fractures will occur without warning and without any clinical symptoms, because bones of the spine can break without causing any pain. That's why solutions such as Fosamax, Actonel(R) and Boniva are so important. Yet, many people find it hard to take these drugs because of side effects; and when I suggest they stop I can see how discouraged my patients become. Visions of an active lifestyle suddenly disappear. It's as if they feel condemned." OsteoValin is a tested, well-tolerated mineral complex that does what calcium can't: OsteoValin not only helps the body slow bone deterioration, it actually helps build new bone mass. As noted endocrinologist Joel Ehrenkranz, MD, one of the scientists responsible for the introduction of OsteoValin, explains: "Your bones naturally breakdown and rebuild themselves. Up to the age of 30, you are actually building more bone than you are losing. But after age 30 it's often a different story. We begin losing bone mass. Our bodies start to breakdown bone faster than we build new bone mass. OsteoValin helps on both sides of this equation. The OsteoValin mineral complex downregulates (that is, slows) osteoclast activity (osteoclasts are cells that destroy bones) so your body loses less bone mass. Calcium works in much this same way. But unlike calcium, OsteoValin does more. It upregulates (that is, increases) the activity of osteoblasts (cells that build new bone) to help your body build new bone mass. So for those patients who can't tolerate Fosamax and other bisphosphonates, OsteoValin is well-researched and a highly-effective all-natural, non-drug choice available at your local drugstore." The key OsteoValin mineral complex has been used effectively to increase new bone mass since the 1940s. Multiple human studies confirm that oral administration of the mineral complex resulted in increased bone mass and that this newly formed bone has normal cellular architecture. At a dose of 600 mg per day, the mineral complex is effective in increasing bone mass, increasing bone density and maintaining vertebral integrity. Observations in over 1000 subjects who received 300-700 mg a day for up to two years show that the key OsteoValin element is safe, effective, and essentially side-effect free. "OsteoValin isn't a calcium replacement nor is it meant to replace prescription drugs," says Ms. Hurst, "but it can be a god-send for those who simply can't take Fosamax or Boniva and are concerned about bone health."

PRNewswire is for press releases from companies. Your "research" is actually marketing material.

Real people using glucosamine and condroitin have positive comments. However, every study on it has proven no improvement in arthritis pain, mobility, nor any other factor measured.

I myself took it for years with no benefit. Finally I said enough is enough. Saved myself lots of money that was just going into the company's pocket.

If Osteovalin can prove its worth in blind, randomized studies, I would look at using it. If 30 women on some web site claim it cured their osteoporosis and gave them the best orgasms they ever had, I'd wait for the clinical trial results.

Osteoporosis Fracture Prevention: What You Need to Know about Drugs and other Measures - Part 2
Worst Pills Best Pills Newsletter article December, 2008

(From the National Osteoporosis Foundation)


Last month in Worst Pills, Best Pills News we provided a guide to the sometimes overwhelming world of osteoporosis screening. In our article we explained that an osteoporosis diagnosis is usually made by evaluating bone mineral density (BMD), which reflects only bone quantity. Because low BMD is but one of many risk factors for fractures, BMD represents only part of a person's fracture risk. Other conditions and diseases impact bone quality and quantity and are important risk factors for fractures. This month, we are following up with an overview of osteoporosis drugs. Our emphasis remains focused on the extent to which these drugs reduce the risk of fractures, not simply their effect on bone mineral density

Drugs for Osteoporosis

Several classes of drugs have been developed to treat osteoporosis. These vary in their effectiveness in reducing the risk of fractures.

Bisphosphonates (see Box 1) have become the mainstay of osteoporosis treatment because, among the available medications, they have the best risk-benefit profile. For example, older drugs for preventing fractures, such as estrogens, increase the risk of breast cancer as well as heart disease, and their risks outweigh their benefits. The bisphosphonates are also very heavily advertised.

Bone is constantly being absorbed and reconstructed, a process called "remodeling." Reconstruction predominates into our 20s, when bone quantity and quality peak. After that, the quantity and quality of our bones begins to decrease and the risk of fractures may therefore increase. In women, the decline becomes more pronounced after menopause.

Bisphosphonates work by interfering with cells that absorb bone.

When to Use a Bisphosphonate

Before beginning any medication, it is important to know how much you stand to benefit because you may be exposing yourself to dangerous side effects. (See the November 2008 issue of Worst Pills, Best Pills News for a review of ways of determining your risk of bone fractures.)

Bisphosphonates are intended to prevent fractures. But the benefit is not the same for all people. A straightforward way to think about how a bisphosphonate might benefit you is in terms of primary and secondary prevention of fractures - when used to prevent a first fracture from occurring, it is called primary prevention; when used to prevent a subsequent fracture from occurring in someone who has already sustained a fragility fracture, it is called secondary prevention.

Sometimes the existing data about a drug make it difficult to understand its effects in straightforward terms. Reflecting this difficulty, a recent analysis of all major clinical trials of alendronate using a slightly different (and technically confusing) definition of primary and secondary prevention, provides a relatively straightforward assessment of its benefits:

Patients taking alendronate for primary prevention (first fracture) had the same number of hip fractures as those taking a placebo; in other words, alendronate made no difference for the most serious type of fracture. Over five years, only two fewer patients out of 100 suffered a vertebral fracture if they took alendronate.

Risedronate (ACTONEL) did not decrease the risk of any fractures for primary prevention. Studies of primary prevention with ibandronate (BONIVA) and zolendronate (RECLAST) have yet to be performed.

Box 1. Bisphosphonates Approved for Prevention and/or Treatment of Osteoporosis

• Alendronate (FOSAMAX)
• Risedronate (ACTONEL)
• Ibandronate (BONIVA)
• Zoledronic acid (RECLAST)

When used for secondary prevention of fractures (subsequent fractures), the number of women who would need to be treated with alendronate for five years to prevent one hip fracture was 100. Six fewer patients per 100 sustained vertebral fractures if they took alendronate for five years; these findings are similar for the other bisphosphonates.

These results are not especially impressive. Moreover, little is known about the use of bisphosphonates for longer than five years. A 10-year study of alendronate concluded that patients receiving treatment beyond five years maintained an increased BMD compared to those who stopped at five years; however the number of hip fractures was not statistically different between the two groups. This means that although an indicator of osteoporosis (BMD) was improved, the outcome (the number of hip fractures) for the patients using alendronate was not better than for those who stopped using the drug after five years. Using risedronate for up to seven years maintained BMD, and vertebral fractures occurred at a rate similar to the previous year; however, there was no comparison group of patients who stopped risedronate after five years so there is no way to know if continuing is beneficial.

Box 2: Strategies to Decrease Falls:

Strength and balance training decrease fall-induced injuries, such as fractures.
Additional strategies that may decrease falls include:
Reducing medications that cause sedation
Treating heart conditions that may cause fainting (slow heart rate, orthostatic hypotension, etc)
Home hazard reduction (removing loose rugs and clutter, adequate lighting, keeping wires behind furniture, etc.)
Treating poor vision (cataract surgery)
Strategies to decrease the force of impact, such as hip protecting pads, in patients that are prone to fall can decrease fractures.

Serious Side Effects Associated With Bisphosphonates

Bisphosphonates, like all medications, have potential hazards.

Severe ulcers in the esophagus is a well-documented hazard. In order to decrease esophageal irritation and possible ulcers, bisphosphonates (alendronate, ibandronate and risedronate) must be taken with an empty stomach and a full glass of water.

You should remain in an upright position for at least 30 minutes after swallowing the medicine.

Osteonecrosis of the jaw (destruction of the jaw bone) is a very serious complication; it has most often occurred in cancer patients receiving intravenous bisphosphonates (ibandronate and zoledronate), but there are also many cases in people using drugs such as alendronate for treatment of osteoporosis. This side effect often occurs in the context of dental surgery/extractions...

Atrial fibrillation, an irregular and rapid heart beat, is a newly recognized risk being investigated by the Food and Drug Administration. Lastly, incapacitating bone, muscle and joint pain is another known hazardous side effect of bisphosphonates. Additionally, there is growing concern that prolonged interference with bone remodeling cells by long-term bisphosphonate use may actually lead to fractures. (See next month's Worst Pills, Best Pills News for a more in-depth discussion of this topic.)

Non-Drug measures Can Decrease Fractures

Just as there are many factors that can lead to fractures, there are more options than just drugs for preventing osteoporosis-related fractures.

Falls are antecedent to most fractures. One's risk of falling is a combination of intrinsic characteristics and extrinsic hazards, some of which can be modified. There are measures that decrease one's risk of falling and can decrease fall-related injuries, including fractures (see Box 2).

In addition, smoking cigarettes and excessive alcohol consumption both negatively impact bone; quitting smoking and decreasing alcohol consumption can decrease fracture risk.

Bringing it together

Although osteoporosis is an important component of fracture risk, the single-minded focus on drugs for this condition risks neglecting other fracture-reducing interventions. We can achieve better application of limited health care resources with a more thoughtful approach to prevention, incorporating modifiable risks for falling and lifestyle modifications with prudent use of medications, like bisphosphonates, when evidence demonstrates a clinically important reduction in fractures.

FloridaLady - Thank you for this post and the previous information. I'm very glad to read there is an alternative to help our bones. 

And just who is going to do this long term study of the safety and efficacy of strontium citrate?  A drug company?  Why would they if you could buy it over the counter for far less than the inflated prices they can get for drugs they manufacture?  Drug companies certainly wouldn't be able to get a patent--the stuff is already on the market.  They have no incentive to do the testing.  I suspect that any negative information about strontium citrate is inspired directly or indirectly by the drug companies, because they want you to buy their clearly dangerous and expensive drugs which supposedly treat osteoporosis.  Call me paranoid if you like, but I have no trust in the drug companies and not a whole lot more in the FDA and its processes.

This product has been discontinued and they will not say why. On questioning them, they just say they can no longer get the ingredients. I think Strontium might be the ingredient in question. Not sure if they are lying as they have other class action suits against them for some of their other products. I used it for years with fantastic results and am so disappointed that I can no longer purchase it. I did find a product that I feel is pretty decent to replace it called BoneTrex by Stop Aging Now. I am due for my bone density test soon and will be curious to see how I've done on it. Good luck! Certainly worth a try.