Strontium Carbonate Supplements for Bones / Teeth Support

Strontium Carbonate (Element, Supplements, Use, Information) - Page 3
by Ward Dean, MD -- Reprinted by permission from Pat Whittington of Vitamin Research

In another study, Dr. Skoryna administered strontium (in the form of strontium gluconate) for at least three months. The dosage of strontium was only 274 mg per day -- much lower than the 600 to 700 mg per day he used in his bone study stated earlier. However, since strontium gluconate is absorbed more efficiently than strontium carbonate, less strontium was needed to achieve the same blood level. In many cases, the results were clear-cut and dramatic. X-rays taken before and after strontium therapy demonstrated new mineral deposits in areas of bone that had been eroded by the aberrant cell division. In one patient, a vertebra that appeared to be on the verge of collapse showed extensive remineralization. Although much of this newly deposited mineral was no doubt made up of calcium crystals, the presence of strontium was clearly evident by its characteristic appearance on the X-rays. These strontium deposits were still visible on X-rays taken several months after strontium therapy had been discontinued. Many of the people reported subjective improvements and gained weight while receiving strontium (weight gain was a problem with this group of people due to aberrant cell division).

Strontium and Teeth
Strontium also has been shown to support teeth. In a 10-year study, the United States Navy Dental Service examined the teeth of about 270,000 naval recruits. Of those, 360 were found to have stronger than usual teeth.

Curiously, 10 percent of those 360 individuals came from a small area around Rossburg, Ohio, where the water contains unusually high concentrations of strontium. Epidemiologic studies have shown that strontium concentrations of 6 to 10 mg/liter in the water supply are associated with a stronger than normal teeth. Administering these levels of strontium also showed the same in animal studies.8

Strontium and Joint Pain
Based on the studies showing that strontium supports bones, scientists at the Bone and Cartilage Metabolism Research Unit, University Hospital, Liege, Belgium, hypothesized that strontium might also improve cartilage metabolism.9 They performed an in vitro investigation using cartilage-forming cells (chondrocytes) obtained from normal adults and people with pain the joints.

Chondrocytes were cultured for 24 to 72 hours with strontium, and Proteoglycan (PG) content was determined -- i.e., structural components of cartilage, including hyaluronic acid, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. These substances -- Proteoglycans, also known as Glycosaminoglycans -- are known to decline dramatically with age(10)(Fig. 2).

The researchers found that strontium strongly stimulated PG production. This suggests a cartilage-growth-promoting effect of strontium, and provides a sound basis for clinical testing of strontium in people who experience joint pain.

Conclusion
Strontium in doses up to 1.7 grams per day appears to offer a safe, effective and inexpensive approach and may be of benefit in people with joint pain and bone-related aberrant cell division, as well as possibly helping with teeth strength. Doses of 680 mg per day appear to be the optimum dose, although lower doses are effective.

Dr. J.Y. Reginster (2002), one of the principal strontium researchers, cautions that co-administration of strontium with calcium appears to impair strontium absorption.11 So, I recommend that strontium be taken on an empty stomach, and that it especially not be taken with other multi-minerals that usually include calcium.

Although the more recent studies used strontium ranelate, earlier studies used other salts of strontium, including strontium carbonate, strontium lactate, and strontium gluconate. It appears that the active ingredient is strontium, and whatever salt of strontium used is less important than the amount of strontium consumed.

Also, although the studies cited above used only strontium, I believe that even better results would be achieved by including other substances such as a broad-spectrum mineral replacement that includes calcium/magnesium/Vitamin D3/boron (taken separately), vitamin K, plus Xylitol (natural occurring sweetener found in many fruits like strawberries, pears and plums), ipriflavone, progesterone cream (and in some cases, estrogen), and DHEA. A comprehensive regimen of synergistic bone-enhancing substances should provide the optimum regimen for supporting bones and teeth.

References:
1. McCaslin, F.E., Jr., and Janes, J.M. The effect of strontium lactate. Proc Staff Meetings Mayo Clin, 1959, 34:329-334.
2. Marie, P.J., and Hott, M. Short-term effects of fluoride and strontium on bone formation and resorption in the mouse. Metabolism, 1986, 35:547-551.
3. Marie, P.J., Skoryna, S.C., Pivon, R.J., Chabot, G., Glorieux, F.H., Stara, J.F. Histomorphometry of bone changes in stable strontium therapy. In: Trace substances in environmental health XIX, edited by D.D. Hemphill, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, 1985, 193-208.
4. Meunier, P.J., Slosman, D.O., Delmas, P.D., Sebert, J.L., Brandi, M.L., Albanese, C., Lorenc, R., Pors-Nielsen, S., De Vernejoul, M.C., Roces, A., Reginster J.Y. Strontium ranelate: dose-dependent effects in established postmenopausal women -- a 2-year randomized placebo controlled trial. J Clin Endocrinol Metab, May 2002; 87(5):2060-6.
5. Meunier, P.J., Roux, C., Seeman, E., Ortolani, S., Badurski, J.E., Spector, T.D., Cannata, J., Balogh, A., Lemmel, E.M., Pors-Nielsen, S., Rizzoli R., Genant, H.K., Reginster J.Y. The effects of strontium ranelate in postmenopausal women. N Engl J Med, 2004, Jan 29;350(5):459-68.
6. Ortolani S, Vai S. Strontium ranelate: An increased bone quality efficacy at all stages. Bone. 2006 Jan 30;38(2S1):19-22 [Epub ahead of print].
7. Skoryna, S.C., 1981. Effects of oral supplementation with stable strontium. Can Med Assoc J, 125: 703-712.
8. Gaby, A.R. Preventing and Reversing, Prima Publishing, Rocklin, CA, 1994.
9. Henrotin Y., Labasse A., Zheng S.X., Galais P., Tsouderos Y., Crielaard J.M., Reginster J.Y. Strontium ranelate supports cartilage matrix formation. J Bone Miner Res, 2001, Feb; 16(2):299-308.
10. Hall, D.A. The Ageing of Connective Tissue, Academic Press, San Francisco, 1976.
11. Reginster, J.Y., Deroisy, R., Dougados, M., Jupsin, I., Colette, J., Roux, C. Early postmenopausal bone -- strontium ranelate: the randomized, two-year, double-masked, dose-ranging, placebo-controlled PREVOS trial. Osteo Int, 2002, Dec;13(12): 925-31.

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