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Preventing and Reversing OSTEOPOROSIS Naturally

Linda Hegstrand, MD, PhD

Osteoporosis strikes fear in the hearts of many women as they approach menopause conjuring up memories of a grandmother hunched over from compression of vertebrae or a mother who broke her hip. Every year 300,000 women suffer a hip fracture related to osteoporosis of which one in five die within a year. Half of who survive requires long term nursing care.

This is a systemic skeletal disease of decreased bone mass and weakened bone leading to increased fractures, more common in elderly women. Osteoporosis is defined by an individual’s bone mineral density (BMD) compared to mean peak young-adult BMD. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) diagnostic criteria for osteoporosis is 2.5 standard deviations below that of a 25 year old woman. Between 1.0 and 2.5 standard deviations is defined as osteopenia.

Osteoporosis is different from many other diseases since there is no one single cause. The health of bones is a function of how well they are formed in youth and the level of exercise and the quality nutrition over the years. During the first 20 years of life, bone formation is the most important factor. In fact, over 30 years ago Charles Dent considered osteoporosis a pediatric disease. After those 20 years, prevention of bone loss becomes most important. A high peak bone mass may be the most important factor to have strong bones as a senior citizen.

Although bone is hard, it is dynamic - constantly being remodeled. There are two main phases with two primary cell types responsible for this process: Osteoblasts form new bone and osteoclasts resorb old bone.

The process of bone loss accelerates rapidly after natural menopause or removal of the ovaries. This is a clue that estrogen and progesterone are involved. Estrogen slows bone resorption. Progesterone accelerates bone formation. Bone loss can be slowed with estrogen, but there is no gain in new bone. That is the mechanism of action of the more commonly used prescription medicatons. Progesterone stimulates bone building that protects against osteoporosis. Natural progesterone does this without side effects. Drugs such as Provera and other progestins have side effects including increased risk of breast and endometrial cancers.

Nutritional factors as well as hormonal balance and exercise are important to have healthy bone dynamics:

• Minerals
• Calcium
• 1.) All calciums are NOT equal. Simply consuming 1000 to 1500 mg of calcium per day does not assure adequate calcium. No one calcium is highly absorbed, results in high phosphorous retention, and is cost effective. To meet these requirements; use combinations of salt forms, hydroxyapatite forms, and amino chelate forms.
• 2.) Calcium should be consumed with food, but those low in phosphorous. Phosphorous complexes with calcium making it unavailable for bone formation.
• Magnesium is not part of mineralized bone. However, it is a vital nutrient for calcium absorption and bone formation. Bowel tolerance is generally 400 mg/d.
• Strontium incorporated into bone strengthens the matrix while stimulating osteoblastic activity and inhibiting osteoclatic activity. Recommended dosage is 1000 mg/d taken away from calcium.
• Trace Minerals including boron, copper, manganese, molybdenum, and copper are necessary for proper bone strength.
• Vitamins
• B-Vitamins including folic acid, B6, and B12 have been shown to decrease the risk of osteoporosis.
• Vitamin D3 is the active form that stimulates intestinal absorption of calcium. In addition, a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association reported a 20% decrease in falls in the elderly - a significant benefit in the reducing the adverse consequences of osteoporosis.
• Vitamin K improves BMD by increasing osteocalcin carboxylation, a protein important in bone formation. People with inflammatory bowel disease have increased risk of osteoporosis probably related to deficiencies in fat-soluble vitamins D and K.
• Ipriflavone improves calcium bio-availability and bone formation while preserving bone biomechanics.
•  
• If you have been diagnosed with osteoporosis or osteopenia, a visit to a holistic physician who can determine your sex hormone levels, customize your nutritional needs, and evaluate your lifestyle is apt to be instrumental in restoring your bone health. 

Osteoporosis is not inevitable and is not irreversible. While the pharmaceutical companies develop agents which unnaturally restrict normal bone turnover to slow bone loss, our bodies are designed to regulate this metabolic process with proper nutrients, hormonal balance, and weight-bearing exercises.