I am 49 years old and was diagnosed with osteopenia six years ago. I have now progressed to osteoporosis even though I am not even barely beginning menopause yet. My estrogen levels are normal, possibly at the very beginning of the change. I refused Fosamax and all of the other prescription drugs six years ago and tried exercise, but I still progressively got worse, although this past two years the decline slowed down. My spine and hip are both about negative 2.5. Can anyone reply with information about natural alternatives to bisphonate drugs? I have researched osteoporosis, my mother had it, my sister has it and she is two years younger. Digestive problems run in our family. Anyone with helpful information, please respond.

Just a brief note, read about the importance of magnesium, and boron in the absorbtion of Calcium. I have read that Dairy is between 1:10 or 1:12 in it's ratio of Calcium to Magnesium. So while the TV media and Dairy Advertisements keep touting the benefits of Calcium, you get it in ratios that are very difficult for your body to absorb. So you need more magnesium. The key of course is can you absorb either? I've read many opions of nutritionists, oesteopaths, etc. that suggest Magnesium should be consumed in a ratio as high as 1:1 with Calcium and none seem to believe the ratio should ever drop below 3:1. How Boron plays it's role I don't know. There are other minerals or vitamins that play a role in absorption as well. Calcium has it's own gland the parathyroid gland. Check to see if you'res is working properly. You may already know this. It's Ionic Calcium your body needs in the blood stream. Most Calcium is just mined rock. Most supplements are just rock (which needs stomach acid to be converted). Calcium Citrate is supposedly more absorbable. I don't know which is better for Magnesium Absorption - citrate or oxide. Some supplements use many of each. And to throw a bigger kink in what to take the Capryl I take is a whole different form of Calcium and Magnesium. Standard Process (The vitamins a lot of Chiropracters push) is Calcium Lactate (Lots of ground up cow stuff in Standard Process Vitamins). And of course you know you can get bioavailable calcium and magnesium from green plants.

So where does that leave you? Exploring the amount and types of calcium your body can absorb, correcting intestinal absorption (I read some of your other posts and Candida may be preventing your absorption of all kinds of nutrients). I have never got any kind of advice about nutrtition from a MD. I cringe at all the Television ads for Drugs. Got High Blood pressure - take this, Cholesterol - take this, Can't sleep - take this, followed by a huge list of side effects that are downplayed. Every health problem has a solution, but you can not get to the solution until you have an accurate diagnosis. And that is the Catch 22, how does one get an accurate diagnosis from and MD (I'm sure there are some good ones, but I haven't found one) who doesn't treat the body as a whole and reaches for the prescription pad for everything.

Anyways I'll shut up now, I do a lot of research and come across a lot of information people may have not have thought of yet in their own searches.

In addition to the magnesium and boron you need to take vitamin D for calcium absorption.

I think that to get enough in your system to really make a difference you need to take a calcium/ magnesium supplement 3 or 4 times daily. This is because you only absorb it in about 1 1/2 feet of intestines and once it passes that area it's gone. You may only get about 35 to 40% of what you take even doing this!!

All minerals have to be in the form of an Ion for proper absorption and that take a good digestive system?? Taking it once daily will only supply about 8 to 10% of what you need.

I also think that the best absorbable calcium and magnesium on the market is the chelated type that is attached to a protien amino acid (glycine and lycine) and pattened by Albion Labs and sold to many vitamin companies like Solgar, Doctor's Best, Kal, Carlson, Swans*n and others.

The aspartates, orotates and citates are also OK and will work but I don't think the best.

This is what my wife has used many years now-- we had our 50th wedding anniverary last Saturday and she does not have any osteoprrosis!!

I wish you well---Harry

The worst UNMENTIONED culprits in osteoporosis are soft drinks and smoking and high protein (over 100 grams a day) and poor diet. Steroids are pretty damaging too. Like Prednisolone and lack of exercise as well.

Calcium gluconate and calcium citrate are supposed to be more absorbable but it's still synthetic compared to how your body prefers to get it's calcium: from your food. If you work out in a weight bearing way, swimming and biking aren't as good, you force your bones to be stronger to support your physical effort. Unless you have some absorption disorder, exercise is the best cure.

Rely on your diet to give you what you need and less on pills. Leafy greens, sesame seeds, broccoli, lean meats, seafood, shellfish, are all good sources. Calcium may only play a small role in bone density when all is said and done. The trace minerals are probably more important. Organic silica is supposed to be superb but the only MD that I know of who creates it is a fugitive from the French government named Loic Le Ribault.

Jennifer

try to get a half and hour of sunlight a day. sunlight creates vitamin d in our bodies. muslim women often have problems with rickets and osteoporosis because they're covered up all the time. also, stay away from carbonated beverages. they supposedly can cause osteoporosis.

All good replys, but check out the Osteoporosis board here. Many people, much younger than you, have reported receiving the same diagnosis (look for posts on that board).

I recently switched to EZorb Calcium, which doesn't require magnesium or vitamin D for absorption. For the first time in years I finally have fingernails! Others on the Osteo board have reported decreasing their Dexa scan numbers by using this product.

Wow, I didn't expect such a huge response! Thanks everybody, I will delve into the details. Just wanted to let you know, I do not drink any carbonated beverages, have been caffeine free for 20 years, for the past six months no sugar intake, no white flour products, only good fats and proteins, no man made carbohydrates. I have not been able to find a calcium supplement that is suitable for me - I tend to have PVCs when I take calcium (heart irregularities). Being able to absorb some of these good things, is the key so I have done some colon cleansing to remove old fecal material from years of constipation. I will definitely research all of your suggestions and read the Osteopororis posting area. I wish there was a good MD out there and the correct lab readings, I have had my parathyroid checked by two endocrinologists and no one could find anything wrong with me, although I have some of the symptoms of hypothyroidism. I must be subclinical. Where are those good doctors? And I want to blow up my TV when I see those pharmaceutical ads!!!!

GailC, That is amazing that you reversed bone loss! What mg. are the calcium citrate malate pills? How do you use wild yam cream? What is causing our early bone loss, doesn't anyone research this? Especially your brothers at an early age!

Addendum to my original post: I also do not drink alcoholic beverages, only drink water, rice milk and sometimes goats milk, but not frequently.

While all of this is normally good advice, I can't help but wonder if your digestive troubles have prevented you from absorbing the minerals your bones need. Perhaps fixing that will be the most beneficial.

Also, while I understand not wanting to take more drugs, please be careful. If the allternatives aren't working, you need to do something before it is too late. My grandmother has osteoporosis, and it causes more problems than just hip fractures and a curved back. My grandmother's is so bad that she has a hump, and her spine is compressing all her internal organs. The pressure is preventing her stomach from emptying completely. When it gets full, she throws up. It is just a horrible way to live.

Don't forget what is probably the most important thing to help with osteoporosis - weight bearing exercise. I also use a natural progesterone cream in combination with EZorb natural calcium/magnesium and vitamin D, which I get in my multiple. I also get pleanty of D from sun exposure. I was able to lower my dexa score without the use of those toxic drugs. I did actually try fosamax and had to stop after one month because I felt as if I was, literally, being poisoned and I developed severe GI problems. It took a GI specialist to point out it was most likely the Fosamax causing the problems. All symptoms went away within a few days of stopping the drug.