Natural strontium is stable, non-radioactive and nontoxic, even when administered in large doses for prolonged periods. It also appears to be one of the most effective substances yet found for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and other bone-related conditions.

Strontium-90, which is radioactive, is man-made. Strontium-90 is a highly dangerous, radioactive component of nuclear fallout produced during atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons in the 1950s. Repeatedly administering stable natural non-radiocative strontium can even gradually eliminate radioactive strontium from the body. The stable form slowly replaces the radioactive form in bone, and radioactive strontium is excreted in the urine.

Strontium is a trace element closely chemically related to calcium and both utilize the same carrier protein for transport. Strontium has both anabolic (bone building) effects and anti-resorption (anti-depleting) effects, and thus may have significant beneficial effects on bone balance.

In a three-year, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study using 680 milligrams of strontium daily, women suffering from osteoporosis experienced a 41 percent reduction in risk of a vertebral fracture, compared with placebo. Overall vertebrae density in the strontium group increased by 11.4 percent. The conclusion of another published study was "Strontium ranelate given orally at 2 grams daily appears to reduce the risk of vertebral fractures rapidly, effectively and safely among postmenopausal women with osteoporosis".

Dr. Skoryna (1981) also tested the effect of strontium in patients with metastatic bone cancer. In many cases, the results were clear-cut and dramatic. X-rays taken before and after strontium therapy demonstrated new mineral deposits in areas of bone that had been eroded by the cancer.

Strontium may also reduce the incidence of cavities and improve cartilage metabolism in osteoarthritis.

Strontium notes:
1.Calcium should not be taken simultaneously with the strontium since the calcium dramatically decreases the absorption of the strontium (one recommendation is 4 hours apart).
2.It should not be used as a treatment in children since it can alter the architecture of rapidly growing bones.
3.Traditional bone mineral tests like the DEXA will give artificially high results since strontium is much denser than calcium and a correction will need to be factored in.
4.As with all of the pharmaceutical agents, the long term safety of administration of strontium is unknown, but thousands of women have now taken it over the last decade.
5.Strontium is not a "magic bullet" and a comprehensive approach to regaining bone strength is still optimum. Other modalities of bone support include calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, vitamin K, progesterone, estrogen (in small amounts), testosterone (if necessary) and weight bearing exercise.

Strontium in doses up to 1.7 g/day appears to offer a safe, effective and inexpensive approach to preventing and reversing osteoporosis and may be of benefit in patients with osteoarthritis and cancer with bone metastases, as well as possibly helping to prevent dental cavities.

Information sources are the webpage links listed at the bottom of the page.