STRONTIUM on Bone Health

EDITORIAL (opinion please!)

Is Strontium a savior for stronger bones or a Pandora's Box with other diseases lurking in the future??????

While many Nutritionists are promoting the use of Strontium for bone health, the short and only truthful answer is the latter, with some qualifications. Over time, high dose Strontium will displace calcium not only out of bones, but also participate by depositing in organs such as Kidneys and in Artery walls. Plus, the bone formed from high dose Strontium is quite different in shape than regular normal calcium only bone. Yes it is harder BUT... This displacement probably is not a wise thing to continuously do because it might increase conditions that include kidney functions and disease, dementia, and artery breakdown leading to cardiovascular problems.

The one situation where Strontium might possibly be an appropriate treatment is when bone conditions have deteriorated to such a point that drug treatment is the only recourse. Then and only then should Strontium Renalate or a similar compound now available in vitamin stores be considered UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL. They will make a risk assessment and monitor for kidney, dementia, and mal-formation of bone. Fortunately, at this stage, length of life usually limits these potential side effects.

SIDEBAR: Dexa bone density scores are given in relation to those of a 25 year old person. The normal bone density of a 65 year is going to naturally be lower. What would happen if the 65 year density was compared to the average of all healthy 65 year olds? 

European Warning: A new warning has been issued to Doctors against using Strontium Renalate unless critical conditions for immediate fractures exist since heart events have increased now with longer term studies.

One possibility is that Strontium interferes with the Kidney's ability to convert vitamin D into it's active hormone form. 

CAUTION: Under no circumstances should a younger and otherwise healthy person consume high dose STRONTIUM just due to the result of a bone density health screening. Strontium is not a panacea for thinning bones. For further clarification, see article 1.  ref

Is there a need for Strontium in a healthy bone diet? Maybe just in trace amounts under 20 mg, but this is still waiting to be verified. What Strontium does in the body: most excellent ref, ref

COPY of Warning: (Updated April 26, 2013) The European Medicines Agency has confirmed the recommendation to restrict the use of strontium ranelate (Protelos/Osseor, Servier) because of concerns about the risk for adverse cardiac events with the product. The EMA's Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) recommended the restrictions earlier this month, and the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has now endorsed this.

Strontium Ranelate has been approved in Europe since 2004 for the treatment of osteoporosis to reduce the risk for vertebral and hip fractures in postmenopausal women. In 2012 the indication was expanded to include men at increased risk for fracture. It is not currently approved in the United States.

In a routine benefit/risk assessment of trials involving about 7500 patients, the PRAC found an increased risk for adverse cardiac events, including myocardial infarction (MI), in women receiving strontium ranelate compared with those who received placebo. However, there was no increased risk for death. There was also an imbalance in the number of serious cardiac events seen with the medicine in 2 other studies, one in men with osteoporosis and the other in patients with osteoarthritis, the CHMP said.

This more in-depth risk evaluation was undertaken due to earlier concerns about other serious adverse events such as venous thromboembolism and rare but serious skin reactions with strontium ranelate.

The following restrictions apply, the CHMP said today:

• Strontium ranelate should only be used for the treatment of severe osteoporosis in postmenopausal women at high risk for fracture and severe osteoporosis in men at increased risk for fracture.

• Strontium ranelate should not be used in patients with current or past history of ischemic heart disease (such as angina or MI), peripheral arterial disease, or cerebrovascular disease or in patients with uncontrolled hypertension.

• Physicians should base their decision to prescribe Protelos/Osseor on an assessment of the individual patient's risks. The patient's risk of developing cardiovascular disease should be evaluated before and at regular intervals during treatment.

The CHMP opinion will be sent to the European Commission, the executive branch of the European Union, which will issue a legally binding decision

********(end warning alert)  

Some adverse effects from Strontium occur in the first 2 months while others take time to develop. They would occur in supplements for strontium too. It is the strontium, and not what it is combined with that generates these adverse conditions. Over short term, strontium appears to be very successful in preventing fractures, especially over the first 3 years. Lower amounts such as 300 mg offer slightly less benefits and may limit any adverse effects, or at least pospone them.