Holistic medicine offers some options to women and men who suffer from early loss of bone density (osteopenia) or who have a diagnosis of osteoporosis. The most interesting possibilities, again used as part of a package of care that includes weight-bearing exercise (as recommended by your physician and/or physical therapist), involve a set of nutrients that cannot necessarily be taken all at the same time during the day (calcium can interfere with absorption of strontium and other things from the GI tract). The nutrients include: calcium, magnesium, vitamin D (especially D3), vitamin K, boron, and strontium. Each plays its unique and interactive role in the regulation of bone metabolism. Keeping homocysteine down by taking a balanced program of folate, B12, and B6 is also important for bone health as well as cardiovascular health.

Posted by Iris Bell on Thursday, January 31st, 2008 at 3:03 am.