OSTEOPOROSIS

Osteoporosis is a complex condition involving hormonal, nutritional and lifestyle factors.  Too often it is simply advised to take extra calcium, or HRT, which is wholly inadequate advice.

Nutrients that need to be in sufficient supply include among others calcium, magnesium, boron, vitamins C, D, B6, Folic Acid, B12, K, and hydrochloric acid (stomach acid).   

Stomach Acid

The stomach produces hydrochloric acid which is necessary to enable the digestive enzyme pepsin to digest protein.  Hydrochloric acid (HCl) is also needed to kill bacteria and other undesirables entering with food and drink, and it’s needed to absorb certain minerals.  Most forms of calcium need to be ionised by stomach acid in order to be absorbed.  In studies with postmenopausal women, it has been shown that about 40 per cent are severely deficient in stomach acid.  These women could absorb only 4 per cent of an oral dose of calcium carbonate (as opposed to 22 per cent in women with normal stomach acid).  Women with low stomach acid were able to absorb 45 per cent of calcium citrate, however.  

Excess Protein

Eskimos consume large amounts of calcium and yet have exceptionally high levels of osteoporosis.  The Bantus in Africa eat only an average of 400mg calcium a day and have virtually no incidence of osteoporosis. What could explain this, when we know that calcium is so obviously important?  We know the explanation  in this instance doesn’t lie in a high consumption of phytoestrogens, which protects the Japanese.  Most likely the explanation lies in the high animal protein consumption by Eskimos, compared with the low protein, high vegetable consumption of the Bantus that provides the critical difference.

Protein rich foods are acid forming.  The body cannot tolerate substantial changes in the acid pH of blood and neutralises or ‘buffers’ this effect through two main alkaline agents – sodium and calcium.  When body reserves of sodium are used up, calcium is taken from the bone.  Therefore, the more protein you eat the more calcium you need.  (Note, sodium found naturally in food, especially vegetables, is beneficial – sodium chloride or table salt is not.)

The fact that high protein diets lead to calcium deficiency is nothing new.  But research is now showing that if you eat a high protein diet no amount of calcium corrects the imbalance.  In one study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition subjects were given a moderately high protein diet and a very high protein diet plus 1400mg of calcium.  The overall loss of calcium was 37mg per day on the moderately high protein diet and 137mg per day on the very high protein diet.  The authors concluded that "high calcium diets are unlikely to prevent probable bone loss induced by high protein diets."

In another study a protein intake of 95 grams a day (bacon and eggs for breakfast supplies 55 grams), resulted in an average calcium loss of 58mg per day, which means a loss of 2 per cent of total skeletal calcium per year, or 20 per cent each decade.  The negative effects of too much protein has been clearly demonstrated in people with osteoporosis.  Some medical scientists now believe that a life-long consumption of a high protein, acid-forming diet may be a primary cause of osteoporosis.

Protein from meat provides 20-50mg more phosphorus than calcium. (The other very high phosphorus containing ‘foods’ are soft drinks, such as cola.)  The ideal ratio is not clear cut, but appears to be in the region of 1.5:1 calcium to phosphorus.  There are conflicting studies and the final word is not yet in.  We know that excessive phosphorus can lead to loss of calcium from bone and increased calcium loss in the faeces.  Perhaps high levels of phosphorus stimulates PTH (parathyroid hormone) which brings calcium out of the bone.  However, rather confusingly, one study showed that four women with osteoporosis given one gram of phosphorus supplement showed improved calcium balance.  A couple of similar studies showed the same. However, it should be said that increased calcium retention is not always beneficial.  If this retained calcium sits in the soft tissue of the arteries, heart and kidneys, instead of the bone, then this would obviously be detrimental to health. More research is needed before it can be recommended to increase phosphorus at this time.

My personal instinct is not to supplement, as vegetarian women who have much lower levels of phosphorus also suffer less osteoporosis.

On a happy note, Calcium Citrate does not collect in soft tissue, and indeed can be used along with Magnesium Citrate to help dissolve calcification.  

Excess of Toxic Metals

LEAD interferes with the absorption of Calcium.  Blood is not a good indicator of lead poisoning because lead quickly departs from the bloodstream and enters the skeletal tissues and hair.  Hidden in the skeletal tissues, lead interferes with red blood cell production.  To reduce lead in the bones, you will need adequate fibre (pectin is good), calcium, copper, zinc, iron, chromium, vitamin C and B Complex.  Blue Green Algae is excellent for detoxifying all heavy metals.  

CADMIUM interferes with calcium and phosphorus metabolism.  A well-known case of severe cadmium poisoning occurred in a fishing village in Japan.  The first symptoms were excessive lower back pain among the women aged 50-60.  Soon, walking became extremely painful and bones were breaking.  It became known as “ouch-ouch” disease, and eventually doctors discovered excessive amounts of cadmium in the urine of victims, which was traced to a cadmium mine upstream which was polluting the drinking water.  We need zinc, iron, manganese, copper, selenium, calcium, vitamin C and vitamin D to help prevent and reduce high levels of cadmium.  

ALUMINIUM.  It is thought that increased levels of aluminium absorption can stimulate the parathyroid gland which can bring calcium out of the bone and into the blood.  Most antacids and many deodorants contain aluminium.  

FLUORIDE  combines with calcium to form insoluble calcium fluoride.  Several investigators are concerned about the increasing amount of fluoride in water and overall food supply possibly decreasing calcium absorption in a population largely calcium deficient.  Start by using natural toothpaste which is free of fluoride.

Coffee, tea, alcohol and sugar

Salt

Excess salt increases calcium excretion via urine.

Exercise

Some weight-bearing exercise most days is important – walking is excellent.  This helps keep calcium in the bone.  

HORSETAIL (SILICA)

Bones rely on silica for the proper integrity of their connective tissue structure.  The silica content in this herb may be a particularly useful adjunct to the supplementation of other bone building minerals already mentioned in the prevention of bone loss or the healing of fractures.  

Contra-indications: It has been suggested that prolonged use of high doses may be irritating to the urinary tract, especially if kidneys are inflamed.  

BLACK COHOSH

This herb possesses oestrogen-like activity, and the ability of black cohosh to selectively reduce serum concentrations of luteinising hormone (LH) even further enhances its oestrogenic effect.  The phytoestrogenic and an LH reducing action are primarily responsible for the dramatic, and clinically proven, ability of black cohosh to relieve common menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, depression, vaginal dryness, etc.  In fact, comparison studies have shown black cohosh to be far superior to HRT in reducing menopausal complaints.  Although research into the effect of black cohosh on bone density is currently lacking, there is justification for its use in combination with bone-building nutrients in prevention of osteoporosis. 

Anti-anxiety and general calming effects on the nervous system have been observed.  This action of black cohosh is independent of the herb’s reproductive hormone effects and would further enhance any reduction in nervous tension and anxiety reported in menopausal or PMT research.

Contra-indications: None, except do not take during pregnancy.  

DONG QUAI

Dong Quai’s use in Chinese medicine dates back to ancient times.  Today it is one of the most heavily used female tonics throughout the world.  It contains phytoestrogenic components which possess an activity that is approximately 1/400 that of human oestrogen.  These phytoestrogens are frequently employed to modify oestrogenic activity in the body due to their ability to bind to oestrogen receptors in cells.  If the levels of oestrogen are too high, the herb’s comparatively weak phytoestrogens can occupy receptors that otherwise could have been occupied by the much stronger hormone.  If the oestrogenic activity in the body is too low,  phytoestrogens can exert a mild positive effect.  Research has shown dong quai to be an effective analgesic.  This combined with its muscle-relaxing qualities enhances its benefits in conditions such as menstrual cramps, headache, arthritis, etc.  

FENNEL tea and fennel essential oil can also be used to help regulate hormone balance.

Other nutritional considerations

PROANTHOCYANIDINS and ANTHOCYANIDINS.

These are flavonoids which give the deep red-blue colour to many berries, including bilberries, cherries, hawthorn berries, raspberries, and also to black grapes.  They offer significant aid to collagen structures, and since collagen is the major protein structure in bone, it would be highly indicated to eat plenty of these berries.  It is also possible to buy them in supplement form from BioCare on this site.

Diet advice

Vegetarian and vegan diets are associated with a lower risk of osteoporosis, due to less bone loss in the sixth and subsequent decades.

Supplements