Dear Pam and Phyllis,

Once again, as in the days past, you have placed invaluable information and advice for the public. I found the question and answer discussion really very enlightening, it is much better than a straight discussion with no prompting. We, the readers get the feeling as if we are asking the questions! And it is such a great thing that both the examiner and the examined are experts! One rarely sees this kind of thing on any other site related to health. I must say it is to experts like Pam and Phyllis that OsteoporosisConnection owes it excellent reputation.

I just have two questions on my mind -- the first is, what are the effects of strontium on the renal function, as I read somewhere that it may accummulate in the kidneys, and the second is what will be the difference between the FDA approved Strontium Malonate and the Strontium Citrate that Phyllis is taking?  

I don't believe any strontium products are available in India thus far -- nothing is available in the Himalayas where I live anyway, except antibiotics and aspirin,-- so I should be the least worried! lol.

But when it does come to the big cities the chances are that it will be the FDA approved strontium malonate, since only the drugs approved by the FDA in the US are allowed manufacture here.  The chances are that Ranbaxy or Glaxo may make them as they do most of the other drugs. We also have US Vitamins and Nicholas manufacturers, so they may also make them.

But the major problem is that very few in India know much about osteoporosis, far less osteopenia. And if you tell someone that he has osteopenia and it means the start of osteoporosis -- he will wait till it becomes full blown osteoporosis and then have a fracture before he goes for treatment. Although women's health magazines in English and Hindi are speaking of osteoporosis the information they provide is  marginal.

Indians have the habit of "waiting for something to happen" before they call the doctor.

You see hundreds and thousands of people coughing violently all over their homes and offices and public places, even throwing out sputum -- but they dont even bother to go to doctors until they get full blown bronchitis or pneumonia with fever which keeps them in bed. In the meanwhile they spread the cough amongst their family and friends. 40% of Indians, those who are educated and live in the big cities, have tuberculosis in various stages and some are not even aware of it until they start coughing blood.

Which brings us to another insteresting question -- whether people with lung diseases will be more prone to osteoporosis! Somehow one part of the human body invariably gets linked with every other part seeing that it is the same blood stream that is reaching out everywhere!

The two of you should come to India. I can imagine a Flores-Phyllis TV show on health with the two great experts asking questions of each other -- and then answering the viewers questions ( mine) who telephone in!!

Thanks to both of you for just being there! You are two great human beings along with two great experts!! Please keep on at it and dont stop this Flores-Phyllis question and answer session! Maybe you can start a full blown weekly or monthly topic on this site with this title!!And I will be there as your fan and admirer from the Himalayas probably benefiting more than any other person!!!

Wit best wishes and regards,

Yours,

Priya

phyllis

11/ 4/09 7:29am

Hi Priya. how have you been?  First of all i would like to say that i am NO expert on strontium or anything else.  I have learned along the way and still have questions i don't know the answers to. Thank you for your you kind words, they are appreciated. You have brought up the renal/strontium question before and i really don't have any insight to give on that.  Since everyone has  different body chemistry i would think that any number of things could be possible depending on the individual.  Everything comes with pros and cons and nothing is perfect for everyone. I suppose if a person already has renal issues, it would  be best for them to check with their dr. before taking anything regardless of what it is.

 

As for the difference between strontium malonate and strontium citrate, once again i don't have a difinitive answer.   Since strontium is a natural supplement and natural substances can't be patented the renalate salts added to Protelos is what makes it patentable.  I imagine the malonate that the FDA is looking at is another agent that can be added to make it patentable. I have read that the malonate form may be even better than the renalte, but once again i am not sure about this.  Strontium citrate is the active ingredient and if added malonate makes it even better than that will be helpful to many people.

 

When Pam ask me to do this interview i was leery at first, but am glad i did it. I'm looking forward to reading  interviews with other members. Is so nice to learn from others who are trying thier best to build their bones who are just people like us.  take care...phyllis

nathji

11/ 4/09 11:07am

Dear Phyllis,

 

Many thanks for your kind reply, which clears up everything! I hope you have been well, I often think of you in the picturesque surroundings where you live-- and I dont worry too much about my health, like you had advised! In any case there is no medical aid here so worrying is meaningless!! lol. Please keep on posting more with Pam with this question and answer approach which really grips the attention of the readers, more so than a straight discussion!

 

Thanks again,

Yours,

Priya

Hi Pam!  Hi Phyllis!

I am reading this with great interest.  This is really pertinent information to anyone who is seeking treatment and wants to know about the first hand exeprience of taking the different types of medications.  I am really glad that you found something which works for you Phyllis!

That is something that you first discovered you might have osteoporosis from a health fair.  I wonder what would have happened if you hadn't gone there.

Thank you so much Pam and Phyllis for doing this.  I am looking forward to reading more interviews. 

phyllis

11/11/09 7:02am

HI merely me, thanks for your comment.  You brought up a good question about the health fair.  If i hadn't had the heel test i would probably still be walking around not knowing i had bone loss.  I was 53 (almost 57 now) at the time and our dr. probably wouldn't have ordered a DEXA for several years and i wouldn't have  ask. I've always been a walker and exerciser, taken calcium and been active, so when i heard the news i was very shocked.  Even then my scores weren't terrible, but it was enough to get me moving to make improvements.

 

If you are looking for a way to treat your osteo then look further to strontium.  There are options for treating osteo, its just a matter of finding the one that works best for you and one that you can live happily with.  take care...phyllis

Pam Flores, Health Guide

11/11/09 5:12pm

Hi Merely Me, thanks for joining us and we're glad you liked our presentation of real world experiences with Strontium Citrate for osteoporosis.  Phyllis did a great job explaining her experiences and how important a good attitude is for all of us dealing with medical difficulties.

 

Stay tuned for more member interviews which I hope everyone will like on different treatments.

 

For more info on Strontium Citrate, here's an overview of the supplement that may help to explain it further, with info on dosing and mechanisms of action.

 

Thanks again Merely Me for your wonderful comments!!  I hope you'll join us again on other member treatment topics.  If you have any friends with osteopenia or osteoporosis ask them if they'd like to read our interviews, or be included in a personal interview themselves by contacting me.  You can contact me by clicking on my picture and then "send message."