The body needs strontium because it contains relatively large amounts of it, 90% of which is found in the skeleton.
Strontium is an element from the earth discovered in 1790 by a Scottish chemist Adair Crawford. He found it in a barium crystal ore near the Scottish town of Strontian.
By the 1940’s research began to prove that strontium was important in the development of a healthy skeletal system. In fact, strontium is shown to stop bone loss.
Interest in strontium increased when animal diets with added strontium were proven to increase the buildup of dentin tissue in teeth. [1]
Further evidence confirmed that healthy teeth contain more strontium than teeth with cavities, which gave indication to researchers that it would likely help bone too. [1]
It’s worth noting that strontium is almost always present in the same foods in which we find calcium (we cover the most strontium-rich foods in our Strontium Food Sources page). This means that although calcium got the credit, all along it got assistance from strontium in building your bones.
Calcium is in greater amounts in the bones, and is studied more, so it overshadows the importance of strontium. But minerals work collaboratively and are all important.
If you don’t have enough strontium in your diet, all the calcium in the world won’t provide you with your strongest bones.
Strontium Studies
- Builds healthy new bone at an increased rate of 172%A study done in the 1980s at McGill University showed, that in people with osteoporosis, a daily dose of 600 to 700 mg of strontium increased the rate of new bone formation – by 172%! [2]
- Increases your bone mass density by up to 14.4%The New England Journal of Medicine, published a 2004 study (called the STRATOS TRIAL) of 1,649 postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density over a three year period. All of the them had suffered at least one compression fracture in their spines. Participants received 680 mg strontium, or placebo.The women who took strontium increased bone density in their backs by 14.4% and their necks by 8.3% on average, and cut their risk of new fractures by 49% – in the first year.The authors concluded that…
“…treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis with strontium …leads to early and sustained reductions in the risk of vertebral fractures.” [3] - Reduces your chance of fracture by up to 59%
A study from the University of Melbourne looked at the data of 1431 postmenopausal women diagnosed with osteopenia. The results showed a vertebral fracture risk reduction of as much as 59% in those using strontium. No significant risk of side effects were reported. [4]
And for a list of more science-backed strontium benefits, visit our dedicated Strontium Benefits page.
How Does Strontium Work?
Strontium is a natural component of bone.
In every gram of bone there is about 100 micrograms of strontium. So supplementing with strontium is a necessary and preventative measure, effectively replacing what we naturally excrete.
Strontium’s cousins include calcium and magnesium. They are all chemically similar and are necessary for optimum bone growth and health.
Strontium actually stops bone loss (by limiting osteoclasts that break down bone), while it stimulates bone growth (with cells called osteoblasts).
In fact it is the only known natural substance that actually works on both ends of bone health challenge – at the same time!
Who Should Take Strontium?
Strontium is not for everyone. For instance, people under age 35, who are naturally growing more bone than they are losing, do not need it.
But if you are over age 35 strontium will extend the number of years you can continue to live actively, with energy and without fear of fracture. Hopefully you are growing more bone than losing it and don’t need strontium.
But to know for sure, see if the following points describe you.
Have You Been Diagnosed with Low Bone Density? (Osteopenic or Osteoporotic)
We all lose about 1% of bone per year after age 35. AlgaeCal is clinically supported to increase your bone density by over 1% to keep you at even.
However, a diagnosis of osteopenia or osteoporosis means that you are losing bone faster than the average 1% per year. Unless you do something about it, a life-altering painful fracture will be inevitable.
Are You Postmenopausal?
Bone loss accelerates in postmenopausal women.
How much loss? 5% per year is not unusual, but Dr. Susan E. Brown, PhD of The Center for Better Bones writes:
“Some women can end up with dramatically less bone mass than when they began the transition — up to 20% for a few women I see.” [5]
Are You taking Steroid Medications? (e.g., Prednisone, Cortisone)
Steroid medications have significant effect on, and interrupt the metabolism of calcium, vitamin D and bone, leading to accelerated bone loss of as much as 10-15%, osteoporosis, and broken bones. [6], [7]
Other Bone Breaking Culprits
There are yet more good reasons to consider strontium, the bone growing miracle.
Your bones will eventually be at risk of fracture if you’re:
- Low in calcium and vitamin D
- White or Asian
- Thin or have a small frame
- A smoker
- Drinking 1 or more sodas a day
- Consuming a diet high in sugar
- Get little or no exercise
What’s The Best Time To Take Strontium?
The same mechanism works to absorb strontium and calcium in our gastrointestinal tracts. So when we take both supplements at the same time, they compete for absorption. Studies have demonstrated that when the two are taken together, your system absorbs twice as much calcium than it does strontium.
A report published by the European Medicines Agency says that intake of food, milk, derivative products as well as medicine reduces the bioavailability of strontium by as much as 60% – 70%.
This is why it’s recommended that strontium should be separated by at least two hours apart from food and calcium supplements. [8]
Our bones are made up of much more than just calcium – so we must replenish them accordingly. We can benefit from generations of people who took strontium, and those who monitored them as they did.
Thanks to the pioneering and diligence of those who came before us, we now know we no longer have to live out our final years in fear and apprehension of breaking a bone.
Strontium is a bone reversing gift from Mother Nature that will keep you strong and unbreakable on the road of life – despite the bumps and potholes!
Sources:
- ^ http://www.denvernaturopathic.com/news/strontiumone.html#_ftn1
- ^ Meunier PJ, Roux C, Seeman E et al. (2004). “The effects of strontium ranelate on the risk of vertebral fracture in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis.”. New England Journal of Medicine 350: 459–468. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa022436. PMID 14749454.
- ^ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17997711
- ^ http://www.medsci.org/v08p0180.htm
- ^ http://www.womentowomen.com/bonehealth/bones-menopause.aspx
- ^ http://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/conditions/osteoporosis/osteoporosis_and_steroids.htm
- ^ http://ndt.oxfordjournals.org/content/18/5/861.full
- ^ Summary of Product Characteristics (Page 4); European Medicines Agency; December, 2011; http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/EPAR_-_Product_Information/human/000561/WC500051121.pdf
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