A 'natural' osteoporosis treatment, but effective?
Ask Dr. H: A 'natural' osteoporosis treatment, but effective?
By Mitchell Hecht
Medical Columnist
Question: My gynecologist just started me on Fosteum for osteoporosis. I can't tolerate Fosamax and Actonel, so she prescribed this "natural" treatment. How well does it work compared to those others?
Answer: Fosteum is completely different from "biphosphonates" like Fosamax, Actonel and Boniva. Fosteum, a supplement available only by prescription, contains genistein (a soy-based estrogen), 200 units of Vitamin D, and 20 milligrams of zinc. It is characterized as a "medicinal food" rather than a drug. It costs around $60 per month, is taken twice a day, and is not generally covered by most managed care plans.
Fosteum's manufacturer, Primus Pharmaceuticals, does cite improvement of bone mineral density in research conducted on rats, as well as a recent study of genistein improving the bone mineral density of post-menopausal women published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
But the unanswered question is whether that translates to a reduced risk of bone fracture. For example, fluoride supplementation will make bones dense but as brittle as a piece of chalk. Trying to reduce the risk of hip fractures and compression fractures due to weak, osteoporotic bone is more about strengthening the bone matrix than just making the bones denser. Whereas Fosamax and Actonel have clinical research showing their ability to reduce fractures, Fosteum has no such data. On the other hand, strontium ranelate is an alternative supplement that does show clinical evidence that it can reduce the risk of fractures.
By Mitchell Hecht
Medical Columnist
Question: My gynecologist just started me on Fosteum for osteoporosis. I can't tolerate Fosamax and Actonel, so she prescribed this "natural" treatment. How well does it work compared to those others?
Answer: Fosteum is completely different from "biphosphonates" like Fosamax, Actonel and Boniva. Fosteum, a supplement available only by prescription, contains genistein (a soy-based estrogen), 200 units of Vitamin D, and 20 milligrams of zinc. It is characterized as a "medicinal food" rather than a drug. It costs around $60 per month, is taken twice a day, and is not generally covered by most managed care plans.
Fosteum's manufacturer, Primus Pharmaceuticals, does cite improvement of bone mineral density in research conducted on rats, as well as a recent study of genistein improving the bone mineral density of post-menopausal women published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
But the unanswered question is whether that translates to a reduced risk of bone fracture. For example, fluoride supplementation will make bones dense but as brittle as a piece of chalk. Trying to reduce the risk of hip fractures and compression fractures due to weak, osteoporotic bone is more about strengthening the bone matrix than just making the bones denser. Whereas Fosamax and Actonel have clinical research showing their ability to reduce fractures, Fosteum has no such data. On the other hand, strontium ranelate is an alternative supplement that does show clinical evidence that it can reduce the risk of fractures.
posted by Bill at
9:20 AM
2 Comments:
Osteoporosis involves the thinning of bones, and if some measures are not taken, it can lead to excruciating pain accompanied by fractures and forms of disability. For treatment, one should take proper intake of osteoporosis drugs, eat diet rich in calcium, low-fat milk products, vitamin D, avoid caffeine.
By
Treatment of osteoporosis, at 20 August, 2009
Fosamax is very effective against osteoporosis, I have have any problem with my Viagra Online Prescription ? what should I do ?
By
Anonymous, at 02 September, 2009
Post a Comment
<< Home