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Weekly Articles

Saving Bones…Saving Lives (Part 2)

 

In this week’s Terry Talks Nutrition, our special guest, Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, concludes his two part series on the critical role bones play in our lives, and nutrients that improve bone health. He also offers suggestions for people with osteopenia and osteoporosis. Dr. Teitelbaum is a board certified internist and Medical Director of the national Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers of America. He is the author of the perennial best-seller From Fatigued to Fantastic!, which has sold over half a million copies. His most recent book, Beat Sugar Addiction Now! is rapidly becoming one of the most important references on addressing the blood sugar epidemic. Dr. Teitelbaum lectures to patient, physician and research groups internationally on a wide variety of health concerns, and we are happy to have him share with us his thoughts on how to keep bones healthy and help bones that are not.   ~ Terry Lemerond Last week, I shared with you my recommendations for a bone formula that can make a real difference in bone metabolism and overall health. We discussed calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, a special form of vitamin K called menaquinone, fructoborate as an especially useful source of boron, and other ingredients. This week, I will share with you my “secret weapons” for building—and rebuilding—strong bones: strontium and oil-free omega 3 fatty acids from salmon. But both these nutrients have very special conditions for them to work properly.

Strontium Stands Alone
One of the most important interventions you can use to strengthen weak bones is strontium. This mineral is highly effective at improving bone density. I am not speaking about strontium-90, the very dangerous, radioactive compound released during nuclear testing. The strontium available in health food stores is non-radioactive and a very safe nutrient–even in high doses. Strontium is a component of bones, and occurs naturally in the body. Studies using strontium in the treatment of 353 osteoporosis patients showed a dramatic 15% increase in lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) over two years in patients using 680 mg of elemental strontium (2000 mg of strontium ranelate) a day. They then repeated the placebo-controlled study with 1649 osteoporotic women. New fractures decreased by 49% in the first year of treatment, and bone mineral density in the lumbar spine increased by an average of 14.4% after 3 years. There was an 8.3% increase in hip BMD as well. A recent study published in Rheumatology International in 2010 actually compared the effects of strontium to a well-known osteoporosis drug called alendronate (brand name Fosamax). In this study of women with osteoporosis, strontium was much more effective than the drug for increasing bone thickness and density—all without serious adverse effects. As with most studies, they used the 680 mg a day dose. Other studies have shown positive results at lower dosing levels, though the 680 mg dose is almost twice as effective as the 340 mg a day dose. Other forms of strontium have shown similar benefits, and 340 mg of elemental strontium daily appears to be a good dose for those with mild loss of bone density. If osteoporosis is present, I would recommend the 680 mg a day. Strontium citrate is a very absorbable form of strontium.

Battling It Out
There is one special consideration when using strontium as a dietary supplement. It is better absorbed when taken at a different time of day than calcium. Strontium and calcium have similar chemical structures, and they can compete for absorption in the intestines. If possible, take the strontium on an empty stomach and at a different time of day than your bone formula containing calcium. You might want to take your bone formula when you brush your teeth at bedtime, and take your strontium when you brush your teeth in the morning. This makes it easy to remember. Early data also suggests that the strontium may also be helpful in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Although it took 3 to 36 months of therapy, taking strontium was associated with a marked reduction in bone pain in osteoporosis patients.

Bottom Line?
A recent analysis of decades of research gave strontium a remarkably strong and glowing recommendation. In the journal Therapeutic Advances in Musculoskeletal Disease, the authors note “Strontium ranelate is characterized by a unique mode of action, concomitantly decreasing bone resorption and stimulating bone formation. This treatment appears to reduce fractures at all skeletal sites [and] may now be considered as a first-line treatment of osteoporosis.” The down side? Strontium, though much more effective and safer than osteoporosis medications, suffers from the problem faced by most natural therapies. They are not patentable and therefore much less expensive than the medications. Low cost means that you should not expect your physician to hear about the research any time soon!

Omega 3 Fatty Acids . . . for Bones?
It may surprise you to learn that omega 3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA) from salmon can play an important part in strengthening your bones. Research is showing us that these excellent inflammation-relieving fatty acids from fish can actually slow down the loss of minerals from the bones (this is called “bone resorption”). One study looked specifically at women with osteoporosis and found that omega 3s helped preserve bone, and in an interesting Swedish study of healthy men, it was found that there was a strong correlation between omega 3 fatty acids in the blood and peak bone mineral density. The higher the amounts of omega 3s—especially docosahexaenoic acid or DHA—the stronger their bones tended to be.

Swimming Upstream
However, there are many challenges to supplementing with fish oil. Many oils come from a variety of small trash fish, have been altered or spiked to have higher omega 3 fatty acid levels, struggle with purity, have rancidity issues, and on top of all of that, are not easily absorbed. This last means that people might have to take up to 25 capsules to absorb a therapeutic dose! While I certainly encourage everyone to consume plenty of fresh fish in their diets (at least 3-4 portions of salmon or tuna a week), I do realize it is not always a favorite, nor is it always available for everyone.  I recommend supplemental omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA) from salmon bound to phospholipids in a tablet dosage form. This very new European process, called “vectorization,” increases the absorption of omega 3 fatty acids about 50 times that of fish oil. In fish oil, the DHA and EPA are transported by triglycerides, which are very poor carriers of these important essential fatty acids. Phospholipids, on the other hand, are excellent carriers of DHA and EPA. This means you can give therapeutic amounts of omega 3 fatty acids in a small tablet instead of multiple large softgels or spoonfuls of fishy liquid oil. Additionally, these naturally-occurring phospholipids are themselves extremely healthy. One type of phospholipid, called phosphatidylserine, has several clinical studies on its impact on focus, attention, memory and mood. So you can improve your bone health and your brain health at the same time taking just 1-2 tablets a day—instead of 25!

And Don’t Forget Lifestyle!
Even though supplements can play a tremendous part in getting your bones healthy, it is not the complete answer. There is so much you can do with your daily choices that can help your bones. If you want a wholesome body, eat wholesome foods. Avoid soft drinks especially! Sodas have even been shown to dramatically increase bone fractures in children! Get rid of the sugar and refined carbohydrates, and not only will your bones be healthier—all of you will be healthier! And if you are drinking excess alcohol, stop or cut back, as this is a major cause of loss of bone density. Walk more (1/2-1+ hours a day)! This can be done in a warm water pool if needed. Weight bearing exercises are an excellent way to build bone. Because our bodies have an efficient “use it or lose it” approach, the more pressure you put on your bones, the more they will respond by getting stronger to withstand that pressure. Get back to walking (especially in the sunshine, so you make bone building Vitamin D) and your body will get the message to build stronger bones! If hormonal imbalance is an issue, whether you are male or female, consider talking with your health care provider about testing for estrogen and testosterone to determine if customized dose bioidentical hormones are right for you. Both estrogen and testosterone have a powerful impact on building strong bones, and these hormones diminish after age 50 or so in both men and women. Customized bioidentical hormone replacement can be very useful in both rebuilding and maintaining your bones. You are not powerless in the face of bone loss. A high-quality supplement regimen coupled with lifestyle changes can get you back on track for strong bones for years to come.

 

Dr. Teitelbaum and Terry recommend strontium in this dosage and form. Look for it at your local health food store.
Strontium (citrate) 340 mgs 1-2 a day

Dr Teiltelbaum and Terry recommend strontium in this dosage and form. Look for it at your local health food store.
Phospholipid Peptide Complex Containing Phospholipids, Omega-3 [DHA (docosahexaenoic) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic)] and hydrolyzed peptides extracted from Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar), in a balanced ratio as found naturally in salmon; not chemically altered or artificially spiked with DHA/EPA

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