A recently published paper in the New England Journal of Medicine (1/29/2004) suggests that taking strontium supplements may be at least as good a treatment for osteoporosis as currently available therapies, including Fosamax, Evista and Actonel. 1,649 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis who had at least one fracture were divided into two groups. The first group received 2000 mg. of strontium ranelate a day for three years. The second group received a placebo. Both groups took calcium and vitamin D. The bone mineral density in the strontium group improved dramatically, over 8% for hip bone density and over 14% for lumbar spine density. The conclusion of the authors was “treatment of postmenopausal women with strontium leads to early and sustained reductions in the risk of vertebral fractures.” No adverse side effects were noted except for some mild, transient diarrhea in some patients.
What Is Strontium?
Strontium is an element in the same chemical family as calcium and magnesium. In the early 1950's this element was studied in both animals and humans, and was shown to have strong bone building properties. Some of these studies were done at the Mayo Clinic and also at Cornell University. Strontium fell out of favor because of the association of the word “strontium” with atomic bomb testing and radioactive strontium-90. Strontium, just like calcium and magnesium, is not naturally radioactive. Strontium-90 was formed from the natural strontium in the soils from the atomic bomb testing and became widely disseminated on the planet where it was picked up by grazing cattle and ended up in the milk supply. It then went into our bones. Natural strontium is completely nontoxic, even in high amounts.
Does Strontium Work differently than Drugs to Build Up Bone Mass?
Strontium works differently than drugs. Unlike Fosamax and Actonel, which work by decreasing the rate at which bone is destroyed (inhibiting bone resorption), strontium actually increases bone mass by stimulating the growth of new bone. Fosamax and Actonel “thicken” the old bone. Strontium also has anti-depleting (anti-resorption) properties.
Strontium ranelate is the type of strontium used in the New England Journal of Medicine study. It was developed by a large French pharmaceutical company and it is not available in the US. It is a patented semi-synthetic compound of strontium. Earlier studies using strontium lactate and strontium carbonate showed similar results. These are naturally occurring salts of strontium and strontium ranelate is not. Of course, these naturally occurring forms of strontium cannot be patented so you probably have never heard about them.
In human studies reported prior to 2002, quantities of up to 1700mg of Strontium per day were shown to have no side effects. More recent studies show efficacy with much lower doses in the 340mg range.
How Do I Take Strontium?
• Strontium should be taken at a time different than calcium to improve it’s absorption.
• Vitamin D, vitamin K, bio-identical hormones such as progesterone, testosterone, and in some cases estrogen, magnesium, trace minerals, exercise, smoking cessation and other modalities should be continued.
• Do not use this treatment in children as it can alter the architecture of the developing bone.
• When repeating a DEXA bone scan, the radiologist will need to factor in a correction because strontium is denser than calcium.
Strontium supplements may be obtained in some health food stores or from the Center. We are getting strontium citrate from a Canadian supplier for our patients.
