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Help with Strontium Citrate dosing

SueI
0 Recommendations

I've decided to take Strontium Citrate for my osteoporosis and would like help in the dosing, for prescription drugs I take only the lowest dose of Activella hormone. And non prescription I take a multivitamin and Oscal with Vitamin D three times daily, plus one fish oil cap. Also, I read some where about the Bone density machines and Strontium, do I need to notify my tech when I have the bone density?? And, am I right in that Ranelate just means that is the prescription i.e. European Strontium, which is not available to the US? Thanks so much, Sue

Explore topics in this discussion:

Arthritis Boniva Falls Fosamax Osteopenia Actonel Pain Prednisone Osteoporosis Folic acid

24 replies

Betsy2

Hello DBD:

My thought on Sr is that it is not cycled in and out of the bone like Ca is. It has the same valence and is able to be incorporated into the bone structure and then stays there. There must be research on this.

Betsy2

BoneLady

Weakbones, the three-month clinical trial on strontium citrate to be conducted at the University of California at Davis did not start in March, as you wrote. UCD announced the study 02/26/09, and began recruiting and enrolling participants, and will most likely be doing so through the end of the year. No results will be available until at least this time next year. I got this information directly from UCD.

Weakbones

I started to take Strontium Citrate (by Doctor’s Best) in March and so far don’t have any bad side effects. The only difference is that I developed pain in my left leg, just below the knee. I don’t know if this is related to Strontium as I got this pain exactly two weeks after the first dose when I was in Europe on vacation and walked a lot doing sightseeing, etc. However, this pain did not go away when I returned back home. I had an MRI done two weeks ago, but have not received the results yet. I continue taking Strontium every night, 680 mg, without food, at least 2-3 hours after the last dose of calcium. I am very interested in the results of the 3-months studies at UC Davis on Strontium Citrate that they started in March. Here is a link: http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/newsroom/newsdetail.html?key=1985

I am also wondering if anyone on this forum has any longer term experience/results of taking Strontium Citrate. I called the Doctor’s Best toll-free number and was told that it could take one to two years to actually see any changes in your bones, but “results may vary.” Is anyone here is willing to share their DEXA scan results after taking Strontium?

SusanRae

Hi All,

Thought I'd chime in with my two cents' worth:

I just ordered strontium citrate in the form of Strontium Bone Maker (Dr.s' Best) but haven't received it yet. I emailed them and asked if it contained salts because my endrocrinologist was skeptical and said it would be all salts. They responded by saying "there is no salt in this product." They also say it comes from the U.S., not China or Mexico.

Here is a link they sent me with more information (propaganda?):

http://www.drbvitamins.com/nutritionalproducts_details.asp?id=106

Also, I ordered a vitamin K2 complex with Mk-7. I will add this to the vitamin D and Calcium/magnesium/D/& co-factors that I currently take.

I wish us all luck and Strong Bones!

Susan

DBM

From my research, Sr Ranelate is patented by a French pharma company, Servier. Thier research claims that not only is the bone density improved but also the strength of the trabacular network and the quality of bone (as found through biopsies) is good.
Side effects are few and mild such as stomach and headaches and go away within 3 months.
This much I know from my chemistry classes that Sr falls below CA in the periodic table, meaning it is much like CA but has a higher molecular weight. This means that if Sr is filling the spaces in the network instead of CA the bone will be heavier and any measure of bone density will appear higher. Does the heavier bone mean a stronger bone? Does using Sr fill more spaces within the trabacular network than CA alone? If so, it will build a stronger bone along with a heavier bone. Otherwise, it is just deceptive. Anyone have any idea of research thaat addresses this?

JOT

Hi Osteochick (love that)
If you google Biotin there is a lot there. Basically, it is also knowns Vit H. and is one of the B vitamins good for the health of hair, skin and nails. If you take multi B's, it is normally included.
Not sure it has an action directly on bones but it does support the immune system.
I am new to its technical and bio- details.

JOT

osteochick

What is biotin and does it effect the bones?

JOT

Zeta... interesting information on Strontium (Sr.) variations and particularly Sr.-Citrate OTC...
You and I have been speaking as 'friends' here so some of this is a repetative.

I hope your information will be received and at least considered by all those who are struggling with BiPhosphonates RX.

My Rheum. MD said he did not know (?) about Strontium Citrate so at the next visit, I left him with some printouts on its basics, its recommended dosage, its verifiable studies and its many positive results.

While there are some qualifications on taking Sr., at the recommended dosage, I read that there are no known serious side effects. With any drug or medicine, that can remain a long term and open question..however, compared to other potent drugs for osteo problems, its is thus far, uniquely safe.

I realize that until Strontium (in some form) is accepted by the USA mainstream medical community as an equal RX option for bone density support, it will remain a David/Goliath challenge.

Thankfully, Sr. is working towards that acceptance through a recent FDA announcement that Strontium Malonate is in phased studies.
There is a lot more to be shared on Strontium, if anyone wants to continue on-line research.

Here is to our best health..

Joann

Gatekeeper

After a suggestion here I started taking my strontium during my first hot flash of the night, about 2am. I'm a grazer so no time really when I have an empty tummy during the day. If it bothers my tummy I sleep thru it. I also like a soy mocha in the AM, but I take armour thyroid. Decided hmmm, so take my thyroid at my 5am hot flash (actually they're not that regular, some nights worst, but most nights around those general times) so now I can have my soy mocha by the time I get to work. ;-) ~ JJ

zeta

Good question JOT!

First, and probably foremost, strontium ranelate and strontium malonate are not free occurring chemical compounds. Hence, they can be patented as drugs and, hence, the drug companies can make money off them. There's little money in strontium citrate. Cynical, perhaps, but I'm guessing it's the truth.

Second, there may be increased bio-availabiliy in strontium ranelate or strontium malonate. But I suspect that this will be quite minor. For what it's worth, the University of California Davis study on strontium citrate should provide something of an answer to this second point. Also the UC people are doing this precisely because it might make a cheap and effective compound, already available online , OTC , a therapy that would get an *official* stamp of approval, and hence become a mainline treatment (this is in effect what one of the main researchers told me) for osteoporosis. By my lights that would be terrific, to reduce the dependency on drugs with numerous side effects, eg, bisphosphonates.

Keep on posting--nice work!

zeta

JOT

Zeta: If you know..
How do the various combinations of Strontium differ as they become Sr-Malonate, Ranelate and Citrate and what is the bio-chemical affect of one over the other?
Not sure my question is stated well here..but, I wonder, for ex. why 'Protelos' is combined with ranelaic (sic) acid and Strontium Malonate (Malic) is the choice now for trials towards FDA acceptance in the US.
To complicate it further, yet another form: Sr. Citrate can be bought over the counter.
Does the combining with various acids change its effectiveness or is one combination absorbed into the body better than another.
That part IS confusing.

Many thanks again for your input.

Joann

JOT

Yes, thank you, zet.. I did not understand that from what I read that referred to them (Citrate, Malonate, Ranelate) as 'salts - implication was, I thought, 'added salts'.
Good clarification.

nornd

JOT, interesting to hear you camped around NZ, it is very beautiful, especially now being autumn.
Thanks for the informative discussion and I wish us all the best on our strontium regimes! Let's compare DEXA results this time next year.

zeta

Hi JOT,

Just to clarify something. Citrate, ranelate, and malonate are NOT themselves salts that are added to strontium to produce, respectively, strontium citrate, strontium ranelate, and strontium malonate. Rather, these themselves are strontium salts that are created by combining strontium with citric acid, ranelic acid, and malic acid. You are conflating the compound produced with one of the producing substances.

It can be confusing , but hope this helps.

zet

JOT

Oh gosh, Sue.. I am so sorry to hear of your recent diagnosis.. it kind of changes priorities.
Glad the tumor is benign.. and hopefully the MDs can shrink it for good with radiation.

I am praying and thinking of you for your best health.. Blessings.
Joann

JOT

Yes, Strontium Ranelate is a synthetic RX and is called 'Protelos' in Europe and Japan. It is not yet dispensed here in the States.
See other discussion here on it and other information on Strontium.

Overall, Strontium + is a promising option to Biphosphonate (Actonel, Fosamax, Boniva et al) side effects which have wreaked havoc on many patients.

My best to you.
Joann

SueI

Hi all, I didn't last to long on the Strontium, and I hope to get back to it, I had a couple of bad headaches which got me off track, and then I was diagnosed with a Meningioma brain tumor, a benign, slow growing tumor, unfortunately or fortunately I don't know, it is in a bad place to operate and stereotactic radiosurgery (massive dose of radiation) is reccomended, but that's got me scared too, the after effects, brain swelling can happen whenever. Anyway, I've been way laid and I guess I'll just see what my bone density says in July. Don't like this aging AT ALL!!!! Sue

JOT

nornd.. How I love New Zealand.. As a family, we spent 6 months camping there in North and South Island...many years ago now.

I also take
2000mg. of D-3 and
100 mcg. of K1 (not K2 as yet) 1000mg of Calcium (in two separate tablets @ 500mg/ea..;
500mg. of Magnesium Also Evening Primrose for Omega 6
Fish oil for Omega 3 (EPA, DHA)
500 mcg. Biotin and
400 mcg Folic Acid ...
....by then I have to run to the loo!

..and there is more that could do me some good.

Good grief as Charlie Brown would say!

JOT

Regarding the DEXA re-calibration for patients on Strontium: information is conflicting.
I have somewhere in my files, a very technical document for the techs regarding Strontium adjustments on DEXA machines.
I recall reading that unless it is done, it will show a false density.
I do not know how old it is..meaning that the new DEXA machine instrumentation for scanning may no longer require that adjustment.
I will 'google' it and see what I come up with.

Also, I have read that Strontium takes 10 weeks to leave one's system (as against, for example, 10 years in bones. for Fosamax). That would mean a 2.5 months Sr. stoppage prior to the next scan.
I hope that is not necessary for any of us to do.
Stay tuned.
Joann

JOT

For US manufactured Strontium Citrate see:
www.Vitacost.com
or
www.doctorsbest.com.
Both are reliable providers.

As we have painfully learned..proceed with caution on any Chinese manufacturer.

Also, FYI- there is a 5/2008 report that Strontium Malonate was accepted by FDA for testing prior to approval.
www.muscularskeletalreport.com/articles.cfm
Osteologix S101

From what I have read, Malonate, Citrate, Renalate are all 'salts' that can be added to the essential Strontium (Sr.).

Sr.-Renalate, however, is a synthetic version created for the European market (and Japan) and is known as 'Protelos'.
Aspartame is added to that drug formula. I read that it is dispensed as a crystal powder needing to be added to water for ingesting which may be why the sweetner is added.
Protelos, (which cannot be dispensed here in the States) from early studies, was said to have some side effect danger re: blood clots. However, in one report, it was later found that the early study was imbalanced in the study 'arm' group between those who had a history of thromboembolism and those that did not.
www.medpagetoday.com/
Edocrinology/Osteoporosis
WCO: "Protelos: Bone Benefit Continues up to Five Years"
Article by Mike Smith; reviewed by Israni, MD.

Strontium Citrate, so far, has no serious side effects at the daily dosage suggested (680mg.)

I too, am taking Strontium Citrate for Osteopenia (so it will not progress while I am on Prednisone) and have had no ill effects. Every one is different, for sure.
It will be interesting to see reports on our next DEXA scans.

To re-iterate, yes, we need to let the techs know that we have been on Strontium. so they can re-calibrate the scan mechanisms (sic?) for accurate results.

My best to all.

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