This newsletter comes a bit late this month and it will be shorter than usual BUT I do want to share some important news.

First I want to welcome all the new subscribers and welcome back those who have been reading for some time.

Now for the 3 items.

FDA bisphosphonates

1.The Untied States FDA has finally come out with some guidelines about how long anyone should take a bisphosphonte for bone loss.

In the New England Journal of Medicine, the FDA points out that all bisphosphonates have an “Important Limitation of Use”. They say: “The optimal duration of use has not been determined. All patients on bisphosphonate therapy should have the need for continued therapy re-evaluated on a periodic basis". Now isn't that super cautious? But 3-5 years is also mentioned. .

Now many know that fosamax, actonel, boniva etc. are bisphosphonates but some do not realize that most of the new drugs given by infusion or injection are also bisphosphonates. Since these latter drugs have not been on the market as long as the ingested kind, there are fewer reports of the long term side effects. BUT I ask you to remember that ALL bisphosphonates work on the the same principle of slowing the removal of 'old bone' and so it seems (to me) that all would be likely to generate the same problem of spontaneous fracture with long term use. (That is NOT a medical opinion - only the application of logic by this retired philosopher.) Anyhow - if I were taking a bisphosphonate, I would be sure to ask my medical provider to review the value of continuing the drug every year during my annual visit.

(NOTE: if you are not sure if the drug you are on is a bisphosponate go to www.osteopenia3.com and put the name of the drug in the SEARCH box near the bottom of the blue navigation bar. Remember that returns - above the horizontal line are only Google ads. Below that line are the pages from our site. All have 'osteopenia3.com' in the url.

Strontium

If you are on a blood thinner for another medical condition, do talk to your medical provider before using natural strontium or strontium ranelate. I mention this because the pharmeceutcial form (storntium ranelate) has had reports concerning blood clotting. Maybe I am being super cautious. .

If you are in the EU of course your medical provider would be aware but those outside the EU would be taking strontium as a supplement and sometimes we do not discuss ALL our supplements with our medical providers. Worth doing....

Vitamin D3

I almost hesitate to mention anything about Vitamin D because any time I do, I get inundated by impassioned emails. But I think this is important. .

Do get your Vitamin D levels checked. (It is an easy blood test>) As you know LOW vitamin D is associated with osteopenia, osteoporois and other medical conditions such as cancer and depression. BUT recent scientific studies are showing that levels over 100 (considered excessive) leads to an increased risk of atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is a condition in which the heart's upper chambers "quiver" instead of beating. Atrial fibrillation can cause death.

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The 'normal range is for Vitamin D is "low/normal (21-40 ng/ml), normal (41-80 ng/ml), high/normal (81-100 ng/ml)". I KNOW that many web sites recommend taking 5,000 - 10,000 unites of Vitamin D each day, far in excess of usual medical reommendations. I am NOT offering advice about what you should or should not take. But I do hope that you ask your health care provider to check your Vitamin D levels if you are taking supplements or ingesting oils high in Vitamin D.

Last thoughts

That is the news. I have started going back through the web site - bringing information up to date, adding new pages (I hope to add more researched based information about herbs and foods.) Most of the studies being published of late seem to be studies of compliance by large populations in various social or economic groups or basic research about cell signaling. Both seem a long way from practical use - hence my current direction.

Last idea - If you are in one of the parts of the world where summer is coming or which is sunny year round, remember that 20 min of direct sunlight before you add a sunscreen has been shown to provide all the vitamin D a person needs - unless you have the gene that does not allow your body form its own Vit D (one of the causes of Osteopenia, Osteoporosis) Do try to get your 20 min between 9 and 3 each day and then add your sunscreen to protect against skin cancer.

Be well. Be happy. And I hope you are practicing standing on one foot EVERY day. After months of being in bed a lot, I found I needed to start on 'square one' to rebuild my balance. Getting there - though some days are better than others.

Kate