DEAR DR. GOTT:
Being an avid reader of your column, I feel compelled to share information with readers interested in alternative therapies for osteoporosis.
After experiencing jaw problems from using Fosamax, I found a great natural product that is affordable and works well. Called OsteoValin (osteoval carbonate forte), it is manufactured by the Carter-Reed Company. It is not a calcium supplement. It is supposed to be taken in addition to a bone health regimen. It assists the body in building new bone mass while reducing bone loss.
I have been using the product for 18 months, along with a quality calcium/magnesium supplement and my last bone density test showed great results. For me there have been no side effects. OsteoValin can be ordered by calling 1-800-898-5153. Their customer service is excellent and they won’t try to sell other products to you.
DEAR READER:
I have no experience with this product, having never even heard of it before your letter. You were kind enough to enclose a pamphlet on the supplement. I also did some brief research on the ingredients in OsteoValin.
According to the pamphlet, the main ingredients are a special blend of strontium carbonate, quercetin and hesperidin.
Quercetin is a plant-based flavonoid found in large quantities in apples, onions, red wine, teas and more. It appears to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Hesperidin is another flavonoid found in lemons, oranges and other citrus fruits. It is primarily used to improve blood flow and may improve endometriosis, PMS, hemorrhoids, and uterine fibroid tumors.
The final main ingredient is strontium carbonate. Strontium is a natural alkaline, metallic element which can be used to create several different types, including strontium carbonate, ranelate and others. It is NOT to be confused with strontium-90 which is radioactive and results from nuclear fallout.
Strontium is found in food, water and in trace amounts in the human skeleton. While, I couldn’t find anything directly linking strontium carbonate to improved bone health, I did find several references to medical studies done using strontium ranelate. In 2004, the New England Journal of Medicine had a report that showed the use of the supplement (in conjunction with calcium and vitamin D) led to early and sustained reductions in vertebral fractures in postmenopausal women. It also reported that there were no significant differences in the number of serious side effects between the supplement and placebo.
In addition, strontium ranelate has been approved for the treatment of osteoporosis in the United Kingdom under the name Protelos. Furthermore, in December 2008, the results of a head-to-head study were released in the journal “Osteoporosis International” that showed that Protelos improved bone volume, whereas Fosamax did not. The study was small, comprising only 88 postmenopausal women over a period of two years. It was, however, double-blind, meaning the researching physicians and patients didn’t know which medication they were giving or receiving.
While I cannot comment on the efficacy of OsteoValin, I cannot argue with your results. I must urge anyone interested in trying the supplement to consult his or her physician first. Especially those people taking prescription medications.
To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Osteoporosis”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.
About Dr. Gott