Research indicates that strontium can improve bone density by 8-14% over three years. But there is no evidence that prescription strontium is more effective than strontium citrate...which is available in health food stores.
What is Strontium?
Strontium is a common element (number 38 on the periodic table) which comprises about 0.04 percent of the earths crust and is also abundant in seawater. But of greatest interest to people concerned about osteoporosis is that the human body contains about 320 mg. of strontium...nearly all of which is in our bone and connective tissue.
EARLY RESEARCH ON STRONTIUM
Strontium was first listed in Squire's Companion to the British Pharma-copoiea in 1884 for osteoporosis treatment and was listed in the Dispensatory of the United States of America as late as 1955. For decades in the first half of the twentieth century, strontium salts were administered to assist with bone health.
In 1959, the Mayo Clinic investigated the effect of strontium on 32 individuals suffering from osteoporosis and concluded that "the therapeutic value of the drug appears to be established". But strontium soon fell out of favor when atomic bomb testing converted natural strontium into a radioactive form called strontium-90 which poisoned our food and water sources. But in the 80s and 90s, a series of small studies reinforced the positive findings of the Mayo Clinic:
1981: a McGill University study involving 142 patients revealed increased bone mineral density with strontium
1989: studies involving strontium chloride showed benefits for reducing cavities and teeth sensitivity
1990s: animal studies involving strontium ranelate showed positive results
Recent Research on Strontium Ranelate and Strontium Malonate
Interest in strontium has been rekindled by a number of compelling studies conducted by pharmaceutical companies -- using ranelic acid (strontium ranelate) in Europe and now malonate in the US.
Stratos Trial (2002)
The STRATOS trial in 2002 tested strontium in doses of 170, 340 and 680 mg./day and found a significant reduction in new vertebral fractures and improved bone metabolism in the group that received 680 mg/day of strontium for two years. The authors concluded that the 680 mg./day dose offered the best combination of efficacy and safety.
Stratos Trial (2004)
The first Stratos trial was followed by a much larger study of 1,649 osteoporotic postmenopausal women over a three year period. Participants that received 680 mg. of strontium daily (as well as calcium and vitamin D supplements) increased lumbar bone mineral density by an average of 14.4 percent and femoral neck BMD an average of 8.3 percent.
Tropos Study (2005)
The Tropos study in 2005 focused on non-vertebral fractures amongst over 5,000 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. After five years, this double-blind placebo-controlled study found an 8.2% improvement in the femoral neck and a 9.8% improvement in the total hip bone density.
STRONG STUDY-PHASE II (2007)
In 2007, the American company Osteologix announced the results of its phase II clinical trial involving 289 postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density. It reported that at 3 months, a 680 mg. dose of strontium malonate had increased lumbar spine BMD by 2.66%. Strontium therapy was well-tolerated and side effects were generally mild in all dose groups.
IS PRESCRIPTION STRONTIUM BETTER THAN STRONTIUM CITRATE?
The earlier studies using strontium carbonate, strontium lactate, and strontium gluconate suggest that the active ingredient for strengthening bones is strontium rather than the salt combined with the mineral. The studies also suggest that the amount of strontium consumed is more important than the kind of salt that is used.
Strontium has not been approved as a drug in the United States or Canada but strontium citrate is readily available in health food stores throughout the world...as are the calcium and vitamin D supplements needed for the strontium to be effective.
Further information on the recommended dosage and timing of strontium, calcium and vitamin D supplements may be found at http://www.osteoporosis-vitamins.com
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