The Benefits of Strontium
Strontium was first discovered in 1790 within ore around the Scottish town of Strontian. Natural dietary intake of strontium comes from low amounts in most foods; however, plants, dairy and seawater have more significant amounts.
Strontium is an element directly under calcium on the periodic table of elements and has similar chemical and biological characteristics to that of calcium. Since strontium is chemically and physically related to calcium, it is similar to calcium with its natural bone-seeking attribute.1
Strontium concentrates in the skeletal system,1 where it supports the function of the cells that form new bone (osteoblasts)7,1. It also reduces the activity of the cells that resorb old bone (osteoclasts).7,1 This makes strontium a newly recognized mineral with positive scientific evidence for bone health.2,6
Osteoporosis is a bone ailment in which bone loss occurs, mainly in older women. Studies have shown that taking supplemental strontium has lead to a decrease in bone fractures and an increase in bone mineral density for osteoporotic women.
In a recent 2 year study, women with osteoporosis, who took supplemental strontium, experienced an increase in bone mass density, of 14.4%, in the spine after 3 years, and 41% reduction in vertebral fractures after 3 yrs.3 Supplemental strontium has also shown improvements in fractures of non-vertebral areas of osteoporotic women. For major non-vertebral fractures, supplemental strontium was associated with a 19% reduction in a normal risk fracture group, and 36%
reduction in a high-risk fracture group.6 In non-osteoporotic women, bone mass increased from 0.66% to 2.4% after 2 yrs of supplementing diet with strontium daily.5
Supplemental strontium has been found to have potential in increasing bone mass in both osteopenic study recipients and normal study recipients.1 Daily supplemental strontium also has evidence of benefits with bone ailments other that osteoporosis. Supplementing daily diets with strontium has shown improvements in new mineral deposits at areas of bone that had been eroded by cancer, lengthening the life of the bone.7
Studies have also shown that strontium is associated with protecting teeth from bacterial acids, which, in turn, causes a reduced incidence of cavities.1 Supplemental strontium may also improve cartilage growth in osteoarthritis. Preliminary studies have shown that daily supplements of strontium strongly stimulate human cartilage matrix formation.4
Strontium seems to be well tolerated by the human body. The adverse side effects from the recipients supplementing with strontium have been similar to the side effects of the recipients in the control groups.6 The studies used many forms of strontium, including strontium chloride, strontium carbonate, strontium lactate, strontium citrate, strontium gluconate, and strontium ranelate, usually taken with supplements of calcium and vitamin D3. It was found that strontium gluconate is absorbed more efficiently than strontium carbonate.7
The amount or dosage of strontium consumed is equally important. 2g of strontium per day was considered to offer the best combination of efficacy and safety as a nutritional supplement to the average daily intake from diet.2 Taking strontium with calcium appears to impair the absorption of strontium. It is suggested to take
strontium on an empty stomach and 4 hrs away from taking any other calcium or multivitamins that contains calcium.
References
1. Marie PJ, Ammann P, Bolvin G, Rey C. Mechanisms of action and therapeutic potential of strontium in bone, Calcified Tissue International 2001 August; 69:121-129.
2. Meunier PJ, Slosman DO, Delmas PD, Sebert JL, Brandi ML, Albanese C, Lorenc R, Pors Nielsen S, DeVernejoul MC, Roces A, Reginster JY. Strontium Renalate: dose-dependant effects in established postmenopausal bertebral osteoporosis-A 2-year randomized placebo controlled trial. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, May 2002, 87(5): 2060-2066.
3. Meunier PJ, Roux C, Seeman E, Ortolani S, Badurski JE, Spector TD, Cannata J, Balogh A, Lemmel EM, Pors-Nielsen S, Rizzoli R, Genant HK, Reginster JY. The effects of strontium ranelate on the risk of vertebral fracture in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis, New England Journal of Medicine, 2004, Jan29; 350(5): 459-468.
4. Henrotin Y, Labasse A, Zheng SX, Galais P, Tsouderos Y, Crielaard JM, Reginster JY, Strontium ranelate increases cartilage matrix formation. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research 2001, Feb; 16(2): 299-308.
5. Reginster JY, Deroisy R, Dougados M, Juspsin I, Colette, Roux C. Prevention of early postmenopausal bone loss by strontium ranelate: The randomized, two-year, double-masked, dose-ranging, placebo-controlled PREVOS trial. Osteoporosis International, 2002, Dec;13(12):925-931.
6. Reginster JY, Seeman E, DeVernejoul MC, Adami S, Compston J, Phenekos C, Devogelaer JP, Diaz Curiel M, Sawicki A, Goemaere S, Sorenson OH, Felsenberg D, Meunier PJ. Strontium ranelate reduces the risk of non-vertebral fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporsis: Treatment of peripheral osteoporosis (TROPOS) study, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2005, 90(5): 2816-2822.
7. Skoryna SC. Effects of oral supplementation with stable strontium. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 1981, Oct 1; 125(7): 703-712
