What Is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a progressive degenerative bone disease characterized by a decrease in bone density and mass, leading to fragile bones that are prone to fractures. It is often called a “silent disease” because bone loss occurs without symptoms until a fracture happens. The most commonly affected areas include the hip, spine, and wrists. It most commonly occurs in postmenopausal women (although there are several other causes and high-risk groups as well) and affects over 200 million people worldwide, making it a very serious public health concern. In this article, I go over the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and most importantly, remedies for osteoporosis.

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Symptoms of Osteoporosis

In its early stages, osteoporosis may not cause any symptoms. As the disease progresses, the following signs may appear:

• Frequent bone fractures (especially from minor falls)
• Back pain due to fractured or collapsed vertebrae
• Loss of height (this occurs over a long period of time)
• Stooped or hunched posture (kyphosis)
• Reduced mobility
• Increased risk of falls

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Causes and Risk Factors

Major causes and risk factors include:

• Aging (bone mass peaks by age 30 and then declines)
• Hormonal imbalances, especially low estrogen in women and low testosterone in men
• Vitamin D and calcium deficiency
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Smoking
• Excessive alcohol
• Certain medications like corticosteroids and anticonvulsants
• Chronic conditions (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease)
• Genetics (family history of osteoporosis or fractures)

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Diagnosis

Osteoporosis is diagnosed through:

1. Bone Mineral Density (BMD) Testing
   • The most common test is the DEXA scan (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) which measures bone density in the hip and spine.
   • Reduced bone density is typically a vital diagnostic sign for diagnosing osteoporosis.
2. Blood Tests
   • To rule out other conditions and assess levels of calcium, vitamin D, thyroid hormones, and markers of bone turnover.
3. Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX)
   • Calculates the 10-year probability of a hip or major osteoporotic fracture.

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Remedies for Osteoporosis

Remedies for osteoporosis include specific vitamins, mineral, herbs, and activities that support bone formation.

1. Vitamin D3 and K2

Vitamin D3 aids calcium absorption, while Vitamin K2 helps transport the calcium out of the arteries and into the bones. An extensive amount of clinical research has found that this combination can effectively treat osteoporosis. For example, in one clinical trial, Vitamin D3 and K2 supplementation significantly improved bone mass density (BMD) in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis (see study). Typically dosages for Vitamin D3 range from 2000-5000IU/day while typically dosages for Vitamin K2 in the form of MK-7 range from 90 to 200 mcg/day. Since both nutrients are fat-soluble, they must be taken after meals.

2. Calcium and Multi-Minerals

Calcium is well known for being vital for bone formation as it is the primary building block for bone tissue, but magnesium, boron, zinc, manganese, and silicon also contribute to bone matrix strength and are absolutely critical when trying to heal this condition.

Magnesium – activates vitamin D, increase release of calcitonin, increases osteoblast activity, and 60% of magnesium gets stored in bone tissue.

Zinc – activates osteoblasts, inhibits osteoclasts, stimulates collagen formation and the formation of proteins associated with bone matrix.

Boron – Improves calcium, magnesium, & phosphorus retention, enhances activation of vitamin D, boosts estrogen and testosterone levels, enhances fracture healing and bone repair.

Manganese – is a co-factor for the synthesis of proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans, which form the organic matrix of bone, protects bones via MnSOD – an antioxidant enzyme that prevents osteoclast activation.

3. Cissus quadrangularis

Also known as Hadjod, is an Ayurvedic herb that traditionally used to heal fractures and improve bone strength via its potent osteogenic properties.. In clinical studies, this herb was found to accelerate the healing of fractured bones (see study). The studies on osteopenia it was found to reduce bone turnover markers, which suggest a slowing down of bone degeneration, however, it was not found to increase bone density (see study)

4. Reosto by Himalaya

Reosto is a natural polyherbal proprietary Ayurvedic formulation containing herbs like Arjuna, Ashwagandha, and Guggulu and is manufactured by Himalaya Wellness. It has been extensively studied in multiple clinical trials and found to increase bone density and improve other bone-specific biochemical parameters (see study)

5. Other potential remedies

Isoflavones (Soy Extracts) – Phytoestrogens found in soy mimic estrogen’s effects on bone and appear to help prevent bone loss in postmenopausal women.

Strontium Citrate – Strontium is a trace mineral that helps build new bone and slow bone resorption with clinical trials demonstrating significant improvements in vertebral and non-vertebral fractures

Weight-Bearing Exercise – Regular exercise such as walking, strength training, and yoga improves bone strength and balance, reducing the risk of falls and fractures. Studies have found that resistance training stimulates osteoblast activity thus supporting new bone growth.

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(Always use medicinal herbs under the supervision of a doctor)

by Dr. Nishal R.
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