OSTEOPOROSIS REVISITED
OF BONES & BATH TUBS-
by Lynn Hinderliter CN, LDN |
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In March of 1998, it was my privilege to hear Dr.
Lee talk in Chicago. He was the Doctor who, since 1975 or so,
had been the leader in attempts to design a more natural approach to
menopause, and who developed the progesterone cream that made my own
passage through that time bearable.
A part of his presentation I found very
interesting related to the effects of hormones on post-menopausal
bone loss. First, he addressed what he considered the false promise
of Fosamax, which was the newest medical approach to the problem. He
told us that the drug belongs to a class of amino bi-phosphates
related to disphosphenates, the same chemical used in cleaners to
remove the ring around the bath tub caused by mineral deposits from
our water.
This drug acts by stopping the resorption of bone, and
therefore leads to a temporary increase in bone mass. However, since
it does not promote bone growth, after a five year period the
body is left with only old, static bone, and hip fractures start to
occur. The studies done by the actual manufacturers of the drug show
a 0% gain of bone with Fosamax, a 1 to 2% gain with synthetic
hormones (whether estrogens or progestins), and a 2% loss with
placebo.
What has to be taken into account, however, is not only the
lack of permanent benefit from Fosamax, but the presence of far from
pleasant side effects: these occur with frequency, and include
aching bones, possible permanent, severe damage to the esophagus,
and damage to the lining of the stomach. It is also hard on the
kidneys, and recently ecidence has been accruing that it is
extremely harmful to the eyes. (New
England Journal Medicine March 20, 2003;348(12):1187-8)
See
RESOURCES at right.
In 2002, the FDA approved a new drug, called
FORTEO, for osteoporosis prevention, despite the fact that they
do not know whether it will cause osteosarcoma (bone cancer) in
humans as it has demonstrably done in animals. Once again, WE
are the guinea pigs that will produce millions for drug companies.
Dr. Lee's point is that most women over 65 have
adequate estrogen, which inhibits bone loss. All claims to the
contrary, estrogen does not play a role in bone BUILDING, but only
in clearing away old bone cells so that new ones can be formed.
However, at the age of
approximately 35, progesterone production virtually ceases, since it
is only produced in significant amounts after ovulation while
estrogen is produced during the entire menstrual cycle. Before age
35
is the age of peak bone production in women: after that, it
declines. The presence of estrogen makes no difference:
the absence of progesterone does.
| Dr Lee claimed to have proven that
natural progesterone, as a topically applied
cream in a strength commensurate with what the body would
optimally produce, had been shown to improve bone mineral
density in women, no matter what their age, by 15% over a
three year period |
Following up on the comment about estrogen, there
can be no doubt that adding soy to one's diet is a very important
step towards maintaining estrogen production, since it is high in
phytoestrogens, as plant estrogen precursors have come to be called.
Their effect on the body is still somewhat controversial, but many
experts believe that they block excess estrogen when necessary, and
supply it when it is deficient, thus providing the best of both
worlds!
Some may worry that increased intake of protein
from soy could affect their bone density - worry no more: consider a
study in the American Journal
of Clinical Nutrition. 2002;75(4):773-779
on calcium and protein intake in
elderly men and women, by
Dawson-Hughes B, Harris SS, where the investigators set out to
determine whether calcium (in the form of calcium citrate malate)
and vitamin D supplements could affect the associations between
protein intake and change in BMD in a group of elderly men and
women.
A total of 342 healthy men aged 65 years, who had previously
taken part in a 3-year, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of
calcium and vitamin D supplementation,[1] were included
in the study. Associations between protein intake and change in BMD
were examined. Protein intake was assessed on the basis of responses
to a food frequency questionnaire. BMD was determined every 6 months
using DXA measurements of the femoral neck, lumbar spine, and whole
body.
|
The authors conclude
that BMD in older men and women may be improved by increasing
protein intake provided that subjects meet the currently recommended
intakes of calcium and vitamin D (which in the United States are
1200 mg calcium for men and women and 400 U vitamin D for men and
women aged 50-70 years and 600 U vitamin D for men and women older
than 70).
|
I have noticed with relief that more and more
Doctors are addressing the need for calcium supplementation in
women, and Dr. Lee mentioned this trend also: but he was
censorious about the fact that patients are recommended to take
Tums: a truly ironic recommendation, since Tums is designed to
suppress stomach acid, and calcium is very poorly absorbed unless
sufficient stomach acid is present. HCL in the stomach and a proper
acid environment there is also essential for keeping the body in
proper pH balance. Lack of acid in the stomach often leads
top too much acid in the body, which in turn leads to the
withdrawal of minerals from the bones to correct and neutralize the
problem.
It is my hope that as studies
showing the efficacy of natural approaches continue to come out,
Doctors will feel comfortable suggesting protocols which are not
only helpful, but also not harmful. Until then I will continue to
use and recommend progesterone to build bone, the best absorbed
calcium for bone structure, and Ipriflavone and/or soy foods to
guard against bone resorption without inhibiting bone growth.
In a recent study by Dawson Hughes, published in
the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition(2000;72:745-750),
they looked at the effect of starting supplementation with calcium
and vitamin D, and then discontinuing the supplements. What they
found was that for men, benefits gained were negated by the end of 2
years. For women, there was an immediate loss of benefit.
What this means is that in order to protect
yourself, you need not only to start increasing your calcium, but to
continue taking it without cessation! This is very important,
since the study showed a decrease in fractures, and increase in
bone density coupled with a decrease of bone breakdown. At the
moment, less than 1 in 10 American men or women meet the daily
recommendations for calcium set by the National Academy of Sciences!
(1200mg of calcium per day, and 400/600 i.u of D per day)
| Keywords:
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writes about osteoporosis natural hormones, homocysteine
osteoporosis natural help |
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