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Q. I am 62 years old and just had my second bone density test. I was told I have osteopenia and should take Boniva.
I have been lactose intolerant for many years. Consuming milk gives me smelly gas, unbearable constipation and bloating so I avoid dairy products.
I have tried calcium, but it makes me constipated. I took Actonel but developed bad leg cramps. I took one Boniva tablet the nurse gave me as a sample, but I now have unbearable daily indigestion.
Is there anything natural I can take to increase my bone density and won’t cause constipation?
A. Osteopenia is a controversial condition. The concept of pre-osteoporosis was created somewhat arbitrarily in 1992 for research purposes rather than to guide treatment.
Extra vitamin D (2000 to 4000 IUs daily), exercise and lots of fruits and vegetables can be beneficial. There are also other bone-building medicines to consider. We are sending you our Guide to Osteoporosis, with more details about medications as well as many natural ways to keep bones strong.
Hanh
California
I am 51 years old and in menopause. Recently, my right arm and my neck are hurt so much. Specially, when I try to raise my hands to take my shirt off, my legs have muscles scram and I feel tired most of the time. I wonder if it is because I do not have enough calcium in my body. Should I go to doctor and check it out ? Another thing is My stomach always feel upset with multivitamin or only calcium taking. What should I do to avoid this problem ? Please! Let me know ASAP. Thank you very much.
Marjorie
Kansas
I have been diagnosed with osteopenia. I have taken Synthroid ( which I understand leaches the calcium out of your bones)for 40 years due to thyroid cancer surgeries. However, every doctor I see wants to lower my dosage (100mg) because my TSH is almost nonexistent. One endocrinologist did that and I thought I was going to die. I take calcium, vitamin D, and follow a healthy diet, exercise and am not overweight. I am 86 and do not want any broken bones. Do you have any suggestions?
Nalini
My kneecap damaged one year a go. (Broken to 3 pieces). I underwent a surgery. Now I am ok. I want to know what should I take in future. Food, medicine etc.
Thanks
Gregory Pharmacy Student
RJM,
Thank you for the reply, I’ll look for it at the local pharmacy. In my own investigation, I found that it’s important to let you doctor know that you are on strontium because strontium is naturally more dense than calcium. If you don’t account for the change in density you will falsely believe your bones are more dense.
RJM
Gregory Pharmacy Student,
I started taking OTC Strontium Bone Maker (Doctor’s Best brand) almost two years ago; have not yet gotten another dexa, but will soon. Diagnosed with osteopenia at 54 yo. The strontium sold in the states is not prescription, so its different and maybe less effective than what is prescribed in Europe. It costs me $17.00 for 120, 340 mg pills. Not real cheap, but could be cheaper than a prescription if your insurance doesn’t cover it.
I’ll get another dexa scan in a few months and if my osteopenia is gone, strontium will get some of the credit (along with other supplements and exercise). Will report back here if this string is still in existence.)
Gregory Pharmacy Student
Gail M.
You started taking Vitamin K and Vitamin D for your bones. I commend you for taking control of your disease. I would say that not everyone needs to be on a prescription medication. Anyone would need more information to answer that question — that’s what doctors are for.
Vitamin D 800 – 1000 Units daily can be taken safely in most people. If you have a low level of Vitamin D then up to 50,000 units 3 times a week may be taken. Vitamin D 3 is the form of Vitamin D that is most effective. Your doctor will have to test to see how much Vitamin D you need.
Vitamin K 45 – 110 mcg daily has been studied and shown benefit. K 2 is the desirable form of Vitamin K.
You should also be taking in 1,200 mg of elemental Calcium a day.
Greg Pharmacy Student
Joan S,
Thank you for bringing Strontium up. I found everything that you said so helpful, but I didn’t find it inexpensive. I see that in in several countries Strontium ranelate is made by Servier as a brand name Protelos. Are the supplements in the United States the same? I saw that the government in England won’t pay for it because it’s TOO expensive?
l.d
I was born and raised in India. When we were children my mom use to give us lime water (not fruit lime) but lime which we used in building houses. She use to take two sp. of lime past in a bottle then filled with water and then set aside. A few days later she started feeding two sp.of water every day as a calcium supplement. She use to refill the same bottle again and again and use that water again and again. You can buy eatable lime from a Indian grocery store because we eat lime paste in pan (betel) leaf.
Gail M.
I stopped taking Fosamax after reading an article in “Bottom Line” that said that it had side effects one being problems with the jaw bone. I started taking Nature’s Plus VitD3/VitK2. I told my doctor that I was going off of the Fosamax. I had a bone density last year so I won’t know for 2 more years if there is a change in my bones. My question is “do we have to be on prescription drug or can taking Vit. D and K take it’s place???” And, also, what strength for these vitamins are safe?
TMH
I’m also lactose intolerant and previous to my first Dexa scan had made a halfhearted effort to take calcium which I found would upset my stomach. Dexa scan showed I had osteoporosis in my lower spine but my doctor did not put me on Rx, said to take calcium and exercise. I’ve found that calcium citrate with magnesium does not upset my stomach; I prefer the liquid form as in Bluebonnet brand. It’s tasty too!
I drink lactose free milk and can tolerate yogurt and most cheeses due to the fermentation process that they go through during production. I also weight train twice a week as well as jog, etc. My doctor was dumbfounded when he got my next Dexa scan results, he informed me I no longer had osteoporosis! I’m proof positive that it can be done! I agree with those comments above, do your own research and reading, try different products till you find some that work for you and exercise, exercise, exercise!
Greg Pharmacy Student
ME: Education is the key to most problems. Eating vegetables seems like a great solution. Vegetables have calcium, Vitamin K and fiber.
Most people don’t get bones so thin that they break without trauma — so excessive to improve balance and maintain strength, so you don’t fall.
Be prepared: 1) fall proof your house (remove throw rugs etc.) 2) Put a light in the bathroom 3) Treat any over-active bladder problem you have.
Carol: Not every doctor is in bed with the pharmaceutical companies. I will admit though that BigPharm very skillfully positions their products to make it easy for the doctors to turn to drugs.
plp
I was diagnosed with osteoporosis in 2001 and was on Actonel for four years. I got some better with each bone scan, but not well. I am not lactose intolerant, so it was easier for me to eat the diary foods that really helped. I found a source for real butter, buttermilk, and real unprocessed milk, the cow kind. I also eat some real raw local honey everyday as well as mixed leafy greens for the minerals.
I get at least 20 minutes a day in the sun which I can do on my walk. I take a vitamin D & K supplement, vitamin C, magnesium, coral calcium, potassium, and zinc. 70 percent of my food intake is fresh fruits and vegetables and eat sardines, salmon, chicken and “real” eggs for protein. No longer drink any kind of soft drinks AT ALL, no processed or fast food, don’t “eat out” at all either.
I really had to change by behavior to get well. I am no longer on medication, have had a normal bone scan and have no pain. I don’t want to go back to the pain and medication, ever, so I’m willing to really work at this staying well business. I don’t have high blood pressure or cholesterol, a side benefit of eating real food. I just turned 61 years old and have had a disability for 10 years. (All of the above has helped the disability as well). Thanks, Peoples Pharmacy, for your outspoken honest research into healthcare!
Joan S
After a dexiscan showed osteoporosis of the spine and hip, the Dr. prescribed Fosamax, which I took for 6 yrs. A later scan showed I was still losing bone, but not at as rapid rate as before.
Then I read about strontium, a close relative of calcium. I stopped the Fosamax. I have been taking it for the past 3 yrs and another scan last year showed that now I no longer have osteoporosis, but osteopenia. This is a great relief since the scans showed severe osteoporosis. Strontium is a natural mineral, and, of course, much cheaper.
Susan Carey
I have about 3 high risk factors and was diagnosed at an early age with osteoporosis (early 50s). I was put on a relatively new drug, Forteo, which is a daily injection. I was told I’d be on it anywhere from 1-2 years. It has already shown to be a big boost to my new bone growth. While not wanting to take prescription drugs unnecessarily I am thankful that I have the option of strengthening my bones so I don’t end up breaking my hip like my grandmother did. People’s Phar. osteoporosis guidelines booklet was a big help in sorting out what to do for my treatment.
Carol
Doctors act as though osteopenia is a disease. In my mind, it’s the natural aging process and a reminder that we need to focus some energies on keeping our bones strong, for many reasons. BigPharma wants us on drugs, because we might some day develop “xx.” They want us to take the treatment for “xx” just because we’re human, basically, or because they want some profit. I agree with: eat lots of healthy foods, supplement, and exercise to keep those bones strong!
Dennis K.
My wife and I both have lactose intolerance, and have had it for years. She also has osteoporosis, but we walk 3 miles a day and we drink lactose free milk. She has maintained her bone density for the last 5 years. Lactose free milk is readily available just about anywhere.
ME
Recently I heard that eating vegetables with high amounts of Vitamin K will add to the arsenal fighting bone loss. Is there any truth to this? What about taking vitamin K as a supplement–will that do the same thing?
RJM
I too was diagnosed with Osteopenia, at age 54. Doing research on the internet, I found a website called osteopenia3.com. Although the site has ads sprinkled throughout, it’s not a web site designed to sell you something, and it’s been very helpful for me. It stresses natural ways to increase bone, not just using prescription medicines. I’ve been following some of the recommendations – supplements, diet, exercise – for almost two years and will get another Dexa scan soon. Can’t wait to see if my bone density has improved!
Marsha
Go to NPR and check out the story HOW A BONE DISEASE GREW TO FIT THE PRESCRIPTION. 12/21/09. Then read the excellent book BUILDING BONE VITALITY by Amy Joy Lanou, Ph.D. & Michael Castleman. Then you can stop worrying.
MTB
To my utter surprise when I had a bone density test at age 54, I was also told that I had osteopenia and a few pinpoint areas were the hips. Now I AM an avid milk, cheese and yogurt eater and the knowledge that it “wasn’t enough” was, well, irritating. I was put on weekly Actonel and as everyone knows, it can have some side effects. Mine were occasional and mild but I stopped after a year and simply picked up my exercise routine.
My doctor said that these pills are not designed to be forever pills, by the way. A second test recently at age 57 showed that an improvement had happened and apparently I can only attribute it to an increased level of activity. (Although I was on the Actonel sporadically for a year) No gym. Started trotting up and down the stairs-increased heart-rate, as well as increased leg workouts and the results have been an incentive to keep on with this free form of exercise.
Frankly I think everyone who has a bone density test over the age of 50 will show osteopenia at some level but it was interesting to see that exercise plays a big role in reversing the results to an acceptable level.
Health Care Advocate
A good balance of vitamins can help keep the body from depleting stores of calcium. Perhaps this is a roundabout way to assist in boosting the levels of calcium.