Does anyone take Strontium for bone health?

I looked into it, but as far as I can gather, the reason the drug never took off for treating bone loss is that there are some very serious SEs. From Wiki:

Strontium ranelate increased the risk of venous thromboembolism, pulmonary embolism and serious cardiovascular disorders, including myocardial infarction. Its use is now restricted.^[10] The most common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, headache and eczema, but with only 2–4% increase compared with placebo group. However, most of those side effects resolved within 3 months. Occasional severe allergic reactions have been reported including Drug Rash with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS syndrome)^[11]

I know someone who takes it. She is a doctor and probably prescribes it to herself. She is stage IV but no bone mets and has been taking Femara at least 15 years, since being diagnosed stage IV. Here is a link on use for osteoarthritis.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121111153432.htm

Never mind, figured it out.

I think some of the newer, "advanced" natural bone building formulations contain strontium, as well as boron, zinc, and a few other things.  I took Progressive Lab's Osteo-Mins A.M. for a couple of years -- a mineral supplement you take in addition to calcium-magnesium, but at a different time of day, and it has strontium in it.   I now use Solaray's Calcium Citrate Supreme, which I see doesn't have strontium.  So this thread just helped me figure out something that had been on my mind about why one company said it was imperative to take their minerals separately from your calcium supplement, and the newer one I'm using has everything in one.    

I just wanted to add... shortly after I found out I have diffuse bone mets, I ended up in the ER with two fractures -- one at the top of my femur, and one in my pelvis.  The pathology from a hip replacement found some bc cells in the bone that was removed, so my breaks were termed "pathological fractures due to bc mets."  However, I've always wondered if the femur fracture especially might have actually been caused by the natural bone building stuff I was on -- the one that contained strontium -- because its location was textbook perfect for where those breaks due to bone building drugs occur.  Or maybe that's just the location that bears the most weight, so would fracture there no matter what the root cause?  

Also, I was osteopenic prior to my naturopathic doctor RX'ing Osteo Mins A.M., and had significant improvement in my osteopenia while on it -- to the point that my ortho surgeon said my bones were extremely strong and no sign of osteoporosis -- just the weird fractures in areas with very little bone mets.  So what I'm getting at is... is it possible that any bone building compound that truly makes the bone harder, pharmaceutical or natural, possibly lead to a femur fracture?   Just a thought...     Deanna

Deanna, what you surmise makes sense to me.  However, my GP (and this is just one dr., here) says that this is why she wants me on strontium and not on bone drugs.  That the strontium doesn't do that.

Does it?  Seems plausible to me. 

Here's an article on it.  I wouldn't put too much stock in Wiki pages.  My MD pooh poohed them as medical info.  Hopefully that's true.

If you are concerned about the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis, one treatment you may have heard of and considered is strontium. WebMD takes a look at the potential benefits and risks of this supplement purported to improve bone health.

What Is Strontium?

Strontium is a trace element found in seawater and soil. The main dietary source of strontium is seafood. Foods with lesser amounts of strontium include whole milk, wheat bran, meat, poultry, and root vegetables.

Strontium is chemically similar to calcium. It appears to play a role in the formation of new bone while slowing the breakdown of old bone, and thus may influence bone density. There is some evidence that women with osteoporosis may not absorb strontium as they should.

In several European countries and Australia, a patented form of strontium, called strontium ranelate (Protelos), is available as a prescription medication for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis and related fractures. Protelos is not approved in the U.S.; however, unpatentable forms of the element, such as strontium citrate, are widely available as nutritional supplements in supermarkets and health food stores.

Possible Benefits of Strontium

A 2004 study from New England Journal of Medicine suggests strontium ranelate may be protective for women with osteoporosis. In the three-year study of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, strontium ranelate increased bone density in the hip and spine and reduced the risk of fracturing a vertebra by 41% compared to placebo. A longer-term study published by the same group in 2009 showed strontium ranelate, compared to placebo, reduced the risk of vertebral fractures by 33% over four years.

Unfortunately, the supplement forms of strontium have not been tested in large studies like the prescription drug strontium ranelate. Furthermore, supplements are not regulated the same way as prescription drugs, so it's not always possible to know the quality of the supplement you are taking or the amount of the active ingredient in a product. 

If you are interested in taking strontium supplement, ask your doctor to recommend one for you.

Possible Risks of Strontium

When taken in recommended doses, strontium supplements appear to be safe. Aside from occasional mild gastrointestinal upset, including diarrhea, side effects are rare. However, excessive doses of strontium may replace too much calcium in the bone and hurt vitamin D metabolism, causing them to weaken.

Use with caution if you have kidney problems or history of blood clots.

What Else You Should Know About Strontium

The optimal strontium dose is not known. If you are on medication treatment for osteoporosis, it is not known whether strontium supplements will enhance or diminish the benefits.

Also, it's important to note that while strontium may increase bone density, improvements seen on bone density testing may appear more impressive than they really are. That's because strontium in bone can affect interpretation of bone mineral testing. If you are taking strontium regularly, you should let the radiologist know before you have the bone mineral density test

Scratch the calcitonin, apparently it is about to be taken off the market because of concerns about it causing cancers and causing tumors to grow.

As for strontium, I found several articles that argued against it. One problem, apparently, is that strontium, when absorbed in the bone, is heavier than calcium, so it makes it look like your bones got stronger when you get a DEXA, but it is a false improvement. This site seems quite informative and reliable: http://www.4bonehealth.org/?s=strontium

I am also leaning towards the prolia, much as I hate the idea. 

Annie, as far as I can see, the article is from a non-profit site run by doctors to educate about bone health. Nowhere on the site do I see attempts to sell supplements. But maybe I missed it.

My surgeon told me that there will be a major doctor pow-wow in October, where they will go through all the research on the bisphosphonates and BC, then come up with some guide lines for when and why to use these drugs. He is one of the docs on the committee, so if I get advance notice, I will pass it on.

Xgeva is a version of prolia. Like you I am a bit concerned about the newness of the drug, but it does seem slightly less likely to cause nasty SEs than the bisphosphonates.

Momine, I will wait for that to happen and then decide!  We s hould have much more info as it changes constantly.

I too, hate drugs and I am especially fearful of biophosphates.   I know too many who have suffered major bone breaks on t hem for modest improvement.

Heidihill, thank you but this is about strontium ranelate, the RX formula, which is not what I nor my Dr. is considering.  We are only going to use the strontium citrate supplements.  Not at all the same thing without the risk profile.

Also, the study fails to mention that the elderly patients studied already had these existing health factors.  I think it's always good to be cautious though!!  Per my GP, she is fine with me trying it, since I have no existing heart issues, hbp etc.  Theydid not occur out of the blue in people without these conditions, nor in younger people.

Yeah, the Forbonehealth is written by an MA, not an MD.  I have her book.  It has many great theories in it, and she claims to have cured her osteoporosis by using an alkaline/acid ratio diet.  I wish it were that easy.  Nonetheless I bought it, and it sends you to her site which touts her creation"algaecal" and calcium supplement made from algae.  All t his is not to say I won't try it!  I'm at the end of my rope. 

2 weeks and still no results from Dexa scan....

Hello everyone

I have just read all your posts with great interest and am so glad that I have found these two threads about osteoporosis, strontium ranelate, strontium citrate, etc.

I have been taking strontium citrate for a few years without any side effects. I have been giving it a rest,but am wondering whether to order some more. How are others doing on it. I have always refused bisphosphonates and strontium ranelate.

Sylvia.