Osteoporosis

a screen showing bone mass imaging results

Causes

As people get into their 50’s, they sometimes get a loss of bone density (bone strength) as their estrogen or testosterone levels drop.

This can also occur at an earlier age from drinking a lot of sodas (if you’ve had a bone fracture, consider stopping the sodas) or alcohol.

Symptoms

The loss of bone density can result in spine fractures, resulting in loss of height and even a curvature/hump in the upper back, or hip fractures.

Diagnosis

Loss of bone density can be diagnosed using a simple and safe bone scanning test called a “DEXA Scan.”

If mild it is called "osteopenia" and if severe it is called "osteoporosis."

Treatment

Diet and Exercise

    • Limit Alcohol

      If drinking a lot of alcohol, cut back as this can wash the nutrients out of your bones.

    • Weight Bearing Exercise

      Weight bearing exercise increases bone density.

  • Medicinal Treatments

    The standard medical treatment is to use expensive medications such as Fosamax (and other biphosphonates).

    If you have loss of bone density, it is reasonable to use these medications (usually for up to 5 years, after which they may cause more fractures than they prevent).

  • Recommended Supplements

    Natural remedies are safer and more effective, even long term. As they are also cheaper, no one has paid to make sure your physician has seen the research on these natural therapies.

    • Calcium

      Calcium is good to take as well, but is minimally effective (and dangerous) if taken by itself. It is much better to find a good bone health nutritional aid that includes other nutrients along with the calcium. Especially important are magnesium, vitamin D, vitamin K, and boron (take the mix at bedtime).

    • Strontium

      This is especially critical for strong bones. For example, strontium has been shown to be 70% more effective than Fosamax, and much safer, in repeated, long-term, placebo controlled studies. Take 340-680 mg a day (the higher dose is twice as effective as the lower). It's best taken at a different time of day, such as in the morning.

    • Bioidentical Estrogen (Women)

      Add bioidentical estrogen. Use BiEst from compounding pharmacies. The estrogen patches (e.g., Climara) are also reasonable. Add natural progesterone (called "Prometrium") and NOT synthetics like Provera, which I believe are dangerous. If testosterone levels are low, add 0.5 mg of natural testosterone. BiEst, progesterone, and testosterone can all be put in one cream by compounding pharmacies and applied each evening. Your physician can call in these hormones to ITC Pharmacy (at 888-349-5453) and they can mail them to you (and guide your physician on proper dosing). See Menopause for more information.

    • Natural prescription Testosterone (Men)

      Check a testosterone blood level. If under about 450, a natural prescription testosterone topical gel can improve bone density. (And a lot more — See Testosterone Deficiency.)

More Information Online

Contributor

Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, MD

Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D. is a board certified internist and author of the popular free iPhone application “Cures A-Z,” which was ranked in the top 10 of all health/wellness downloads on iTunes.

Dr. Teitelbaum is the author of the perennial bestseller From Fatigued to Fantastic! (Avery Penguin), which has sold over half a million copies; Pain Free 1-2-3 (McGraw-Hill); Three Steps to Happiness: Healing Through Joy (Deva Press); the Beat Sugar Addiction Now! series (Fair Winds Press);  Real Cause, Real Cure (Rodale Press); The Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Solution (Penguin/Avery); and his latest, The Complete Guide to Beating Sugar Addiction (Fair Winds Press, 2015).