Natural Ways To Prevent And Treat Bone Loss
06 Feb 2010
A reader asks, “Is it necessary to take drugs to prevent broken bones, or are there natural ways to treat this problem? Studies show I have osteopenia and I’m afraid this will lead to osteoporosis (brittle bones)” Today, with doctors ordering more tests to determine bone mineral density (BMD), it’s prudent to know what it means when a doctor says, “You have osteopenia.”
One wise sage remarked, ‘Getting older is invariably fatal”. But one could also add that, getting older is invariably associated with wrinkles, fatigue, varicose veins, having difficulty reading fine print and osteopenia
Some bone loss is as sure as night follows day as we age, much like getting gray hair. So there’s no need to go into a major funk if a BMD test shows osteopenia. This x-ray procedure measures the amount of calcium and other mineral in bones. The result is known as the “T-score” which compares the patient’s score with that of a healthy 30 year old. The lower the T-score, the less dense the bone.
But does this aging bone need prescription medication such as Fosamax, Actonel, Boniva and Reclast, drugs known as bisphosphonates? Or is it more prudent to try natural measures first to strengthen bone?
One problem today is that doctors are too focussed on BMD numbers and those of other lab tests. This means that if any test is even a bit low there’s a tendency to quickly treat it with prescription drugs. The old story is at play here; one never gets anything for nothing.
For instance, bisphosphonates have been associated with irritation and ulceration of the lower end of the esophagus (food tube), muscle pain, eye inflammation, irregular heart rhythm and on rare occasions osteonecrosis of the jaw, a debilitating, irreversible problem.
Dr. John Abramson, author of the book, “Overdosed America”, reports that these drugs increase the density of the hard outer cortical bone, but do little to strengthen the internal trabecular bone of the spine hips and wrist.
So how can natural ways help to develop strong bones and fight osteopenia? Abraham Lincoln remarked that God gave us “our two best doctors, our left leg and our right leg”. Walking is one of the best and safest forms of exercise, putting pressure on bones and increasing their strength. Proof that it works is the fact that anyone who loses an arm develops larger, stronger bones in the other arm.
Everyone by now should know that it’s important to obtain a sufficient amount of calcium in their diet or by calcium supplements to prevent osteopenia. But most people only get about 600 milligrams (mg) daily when they need between 1,000 to 1,500 mg. Studies show vitamin D is also required for the efficient absorption of calcium in the intestines and it’s penetration into bones. Again, it’s the same story. Most people have a daily intake of about 600 international units (IU) of D when they need at least 1,000 IU.
I also advise patients to take a 500 mg tablet of magnesium daily as most North Americans have low blood levels of this mineral. Magnesium promotes bone growth and helps to prevent resorption of bone.
Vitamin C is not often associated with bone health. But this vitamin is essential for the formation of collagen, a constituent of bone. And trace minerals such as manganese, silicon and boron are essential in developing strong bones.
Don’t forget that we are what we eat, so a healthy diet goes a long way to decreasing the risk of osteopenia. Cows get their calcium from eating grass, so be sure to include leafy greens, and broccoli rich in calcium, magnesium and vitamin K2.
Vitamin K2 has been linked to osteoblasts which produce a protein called osteocalcin, a protein like glue that incorporates calcium into bone decreasing the risk of osteopenia. I’ll have more to say about vitamin K2 in another column.
Since osteoporosis affects so many people, I don’t propose that they should toss prescription drugs that treat this disease into the garbage can. Rather, to emphasize that doctors may be reaching for medication too often, when natural means might suffice just as well, without side effects.
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