So, I went for my bone density test this morning. I have a little bit of osteopenia in my spine (it's on the pretty minor side, but there nonetheless). I haven't heard back from my doctor on his recommendations, but I don't really want any prescription medicine. I have a feeling that a lot of this is due to my previous Vitamin D3 deficiency prior to now, but the lady that did my test told me that those numbers can come up again. I've also started my slow taper of Budesonide so hopefully will be off of that in the next 3 months.
So, here's my question. I'm most likely not getting any calcium in anything I'm eating right now so probably will have to take a supplement. What would you recommend? What's the best kind of calcium supplement? I see calcium and D3 and calcium and magnesium. There's also calcium citrate and oyster shell calcium and chelated calcium. And will my gut be able to handle it this early on? I'm just trying to have my own options for when my doctor's nurse calls me with the results and recommendation from my doctor, which I already have the results, just not sure what direction my doctor will take with a recommendation. He is familiar with my disease though so I'm certain he'll take that into consideration. Whatever I take will have to be gluten, soy, dairy, and egg free.
Thanks so much!
Bone Density Test Results.....Advice Please!
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Bone Density Test Results.....Advice Please!
Jari
Diagnosed with Collagenous Colitis, June 29th, 2015
Gluten free, Dairy free, and Soy free since July 3rd, 2015
Diagnosed with Collagenous Colitis, June 29th, 2015
Gluten free, Dairy free, and Soy free since July 3rd, 2015
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Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
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- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
Jari
are you having home made bone broth? it will have calcium in it
if you are taking good amounts of Vit D3 and magnesium then your body will absorb calcium from the foods you are having.
if you are concerned - then I would opt for things like black strap molasses rather than commercial calcium supplement...
(not sure your doctor will agree with this so maybe dont mention it!)
are you having home made bone broth? it will have calcium in it
if you are taking good amounts of Vit D3 and magnesium then your body will absorb calcium from the foods you are having.
if you are concerned - then I would opt for things like black strap molasses rather than commercial calcium supplement...
(not sure your doctor will agree with this so maybe dont mention it!)
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
My doctor's nurse just called. As I expected, he wants me to keep up with my Vitamin D and also to take 600 mg of calcium 3 x daily..........that's 1800 mg...........wow...........I asked her what kind I should take, and she couldn't tell me. She told me to ask the pharmacist what he/she would recommend. Doesn't that seem like a lot?
Jari
Diagnosed with Collagenous Colitis, June 29th, 2015
Gluten free, Dairy free, and Soy free since July 3rd, 2015
Diagnosed with Collagenous Colitis, June 29th, 2015
Gluten free, Dairy free, and Soy free since July 3rd, 2015
Jari,
1,800 mg is a lot of calcium. Your osteopenia developed because of gluten sensitivity (possibly plus vitamin D and magnesium deficiency issues). With gluten out of your diet, and respectable vitamin D and magnesium levels, that issue will almost surely be reversed (without any additional intervention) over the next year or so.
Are you using any significant amount of Almond milk? It's loaded with calcium. I'm guessing that coconut milk probably is, also. Even if you are not eating any calcium-enriched foods, your diet probably contains more calcium than you realize. IMO, taking that much calcium can be dangerous, because research shows that supplemental doses of 1,000 mg or more at one time can trigger a heart attack or stroke. That's why your doctor specified to take it in 3 doses. However, if for any reason your blood level of calcium should build up because something isn't working correctly, bad things can happen.
Inadequate vitamin D and/or magnesium can cause such a problem. Without adequate magnesium, calcium levels tend to build up in the blood. Last year for example, when my magnesium deficiency was apparently slowly becoming worse, my blood calcium levels continued to rise, and most of the calcium in my diet was from the Almond Milk that I used on my Corn Chex (so I wasn't overdoing calcium intake). I even had a couple of kidney stones in the fall.
It's much easier to get into trouble with calcium supplements than most doctors realize, because whenever I described my symptoms last year (including the kidney stones, and the increased blood calcium levels), not a single doctor ever recognized that the problem was due to a magnesium deficiency (and I described the problem to at least 4 different doctors).
I had to figure it out for myself.
Tex
1,800 mg is a lot of calcium. Your osteopenia developed because of gluten sensitivity (possibly plus vitamin D and magnesium deficiency issues). With gluten out of your diet, and respectable vitamin D and magnesium levels, that issue will almost surely be reversed (without any additional intervention) over the next year or so.
Are you using any significant amount of Almond milk? It's loaded with calcium. I'm guessing that coconut milk probably is, also. Even if you are not eating any calcium-enriched foods, your diet probably contains more calcium than you realize. IMO, taking that much calcium can be dangerous, because research shows that supplemental doses of 1,000 mg or more at one time can trigger a heart attack or stroke. That's why your doctor specified to take it in 3 doses. However, if for any reason your blood level of calcium should build up because something isn't working correctly, bad things can happen.
Inadequate vitamin D and/or magnesium can cause such a problem. Without adequate magnesium, calcium levels tend to build up in the blood. Last year for example, when my magnesium deficiency was apparently slowly becoming worse, my blood calcium levels continued to rise, and most of the calcium in my diet was from the Almond Milk that I used on my Corn Chex (so I wasn't overdoing calcium intake). I even had a couple of kidney stones in the fall.
It's much easier to get into trouble with calcium supplements than most doctors realize, because whenever I described my symptoms last year (including the kidney stones, and the increased blood calcium levels), not a single doctor ever recognized that the problem was due to a magnesium deficiency (and I described the problem to at least 4 different doctors).
I had to figure it out for myself.Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Thanks Tex for your reply. I talked with my husband and we both agreed that was just way too much calcium for me. We both figured that it was probably due to the vitamin D deficiency and then you mentioned the gluten. I'm going to take your advice and keep my vitamin D3 and magnesium up and then down the road, I'll try to add some calcium into my diet. I think I'll be fine! Thanks, as always, for your great advice.
Jari
Diagnosed with Collagenous Colitis, June 29th, 2015
Gluten free, Dairy free, and Soy free since July 3rd, 2015
Diagnosed with Collagenous Colitis, June 29th, 2015
Gluten free, Dairy free, and Soy free since July 3rd, 2015
Jari,
It probably wouldn't hurt to take a smaller dose (in case your doctor asks if you took the calcium he recommended
), to make up for any shortfall in your current diet. The normal RDA for someone in your age group would be about 1,000 mg, which is usually not particularly difficult to get from one's diet. But while your diet is severely restricted, you probably are coming up a bit short of that.
As you say though, unless you remain on a severely restricted diet for an extended period, it's not a big deal. And as long as your vitamin D and magnesium levels are optimal, you will be able to utilize any calcium in your diet at above-normal efficiency levels.
Calcium probably works a lot like magnesium, as far as absorption goes. If our diet contains very little magnesium, we absorb it at a very high rate (up to about 85 %). But the more we have in our diet, the lower the rate at which we absorb it. I've read that the absorption rate can be in the 15—20 % range if our diet contains a lot of magnesium, for example.
So taking huge doses of calcium probably doesn't accomplish what doctors think it does. If it did, why would the developed countries that have the highest calcium intake rates also have the highest osteoporosis rates?
And you're most welcome, of course,
Tex
It probably wouldn't hurt to take a smaller dose (in case your doctor asks if you took the calcium he recommended
), to make up for any shortfall in your current diet. The normal RDA for someone in your age group would be about 1,000 mg, which is usually not particularly difficult to get from one's diet. But while your diet is severely restricted, you probably are coming up a bit short of that.As you say though, unless you remain on a severely restricted diet for an extended period, it's not a big deal. And as long as your vitamin D and magnesium levels are optimal, you will be able to utilize any calcium in your diet at above-normal efficiency levels.
Calcium probably works a lot like magnesium, as far as absorption goes. If our diet contains very little magnesium, we absorb it at a very high rate (up to about 85 %). But the more we have in our diet, the lower the rate at which we absorb it. I've read that the absorption rate can be in the 15—20 % range if our diet contains a lot of magnesium, for example.
So taking huge doses of calcium probably doesn't accomplish what doctors think it does. If it did, why would the developed countries that have the highest calcium intake rates also have the highest osteoporosis rates?
And you're most welcome, of course,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Thanks again, Tex. That's exactly what I was thinking last night. "Wait a minute, I don't have to take 1800 mg, but I can take some." What is the best kind? I see chelated and citrate and oyster shell. I don't want anything that has magnesium in it. Vitamin D3 would be ok. I'm having a hard time finding something that is gluten, soy, dairy, and egg free.
Jari
Diagnosed with Collagenous Colitis, June 29th, 2015
Gluten free, Dairy free, and Soy free since July 3rd, 2015
Diagnosed with Collagenous Colitis, June 29th, 2015
Gluten free, Dairy free, and Soy free since July 3rd, 2015
I just thought to post this article seeing it yesterday. There is a correlation between osteopenia, osteoporosis, and heart disease. Weaker bones and heart disease risk go hand in hand and can often be seen in bone and CT calcium heart scans. Dr. Davis, a prevention cardiologist has mentioned a few times that his patients have stopped experiencing heart attacks. What he did to achieve this with high risk patients is similar to what is mentioned in Tex's book. He basically advices patients to stop eating wheat, raise their vitamin D3 levels above 50ng/ml and to take magnesium. It isn't mentioned in this article of his, but have seen him write about it in the past, he advices patients to lower or even stop taking calcium pills as he feels the increased vitamin D3 intake allows the body to absorb calcium more efficiently. Instead he has advised in past articles to rely upon diet for calcium needs, once vitamin D testing levels are high.
"The Wheat Belly lifestyle BEGAN with heart health"
http://www.wheatbellyblog.com/2015/09/t ... rt-health/
"The Wheat Belly lifestyle BEGAN with heart health"
http://www.wheatbellyblog.com/2015/09/t ... rt-health/
Hi Jari:
I recently was diagnosed with osteoporosis. There is a good group online you should join, it's at inspire.com, and is a discussion forum via the National Osteoporosis Foundation. Along with enough D3 and mag mentioned here, you should also be taking K2, which works with D3 and helps calcium get into the bones. About 100 mcg of K2 MK7 is recommended, taken at same time as the D3, with a high fat meal. There is also another type of K2, MK4, you can read up on it and decide if you want to add that in, too. Most supplements are MK7, but there are a few with MK4. Boron is also good for bones, 3mg a day is usually recommended amount. I have that in my multi. As far as calcium, if you decide to supplement, calcium citrate is usually recommended, and it causes C, not D, so nothing to worry about. 1800 mg per day is way too high. Divided doses, and start small. Calcium supp is controversial, as it can cause artery calcification. My integrative dr said no calcium supplementation, my gyne said to take it. Almond and coconut milks are fortified with calcium. Foods that naturally have calcium are greens like kale, collard greens, baby mixed, etc, along with broccoli, brussel sprouts, celery, almonds and canned salmon with bones (not the boneless kind-the bones are where the calcium is and they are very soft) as well as sardines or anchovies, if you like that stuff. There is also coconut yogurt, however it's also fortified, not a natural source. You absorb about 30% of the calcium you take in, and we excrete about 100-300mg per day, which is why 1000mg per day is recommended, more when menopausal because of the effects of estrogen loss.
Weight bearing exercise is important to add in. Walking is good, but add in some weights too. There are some good links there about exercise. Hopefully you can improve your scores.
Lisa
I recently was diagnosed with osteoporosis. There is a good group online you should join, it's at inspire.com, and is a discussion forum via the National Osteoporosis Foundation. Along with enough D3 and mag mentioned here, you should also be taking K2, which works with D3 and helps calcium get into the bones. About 100 mcg of K2 MK7 is recommended, taken at same time as the D3, with a high fat meal. There is also another type of K2, MK4, you can read up on it and decide if you want to add that in, too. Most supplements are MK7, but there are a few with MK4. Boron is also good for bones, 3mg a day is usually recommended amount. I have that in my multi. As far as calcium, if you decide to supplement, calcium citrate is usually recommended, and it causes C, not D, so nothing to worry about. 1800 mg per day is way too high. Divided doses, and start small. Calcium supp is controversial, as it can cause artery calcification. My integrative dr said no calcium supplementation, my gyne said to take it. Almond and coconut milks are fortified with calcium. Foods that naturally have calcium are greens like kale, collard greens, baby mixed, etc, along with broccoli, brussel sprouts, celery, almonds and canned salmon with bones (not the boneless kind-the bones are where the calcium is and they are very soft) as well as sardines or anchovies, if you like that stuff. There is also coconut yogurt, however it's also fortified, not a natural source. You absorb about 30% of the calcium you take in, and we excrete about 100-300mg per day, which is why 1000mg per day is recommended, more when menopausal because of the effects of estrogen loss.
Weight bearing exercise is important to add in. Walking is good, but add in some weights too. There are some good links there about exercise. Hopefully you can improve your scores.
Lisa
I was diagnosed with Osteoporosis in lower spine 2 weeks ago and am 59yrs old. I have never been able to take Calcium no matter what form as it has always upset my stomach (even before my MC diagnosis). My NT told me to try Bone Meal powder in my morning smoothie or juice daily. It seems to be working fine. No stomach upset. You might want to try.
Collagenous Colitis, Benign Cramp Fasciculations in lower legs, Thyroid and High Cholesterol
Explore Bone-Up Supplement?
Jari, you will not get enuf calcium for your ostopenia by diet alone...theres just such a little amount in kale & spinach. Spinach has its own problems-- another subject. But I don't know why people insist on using calcium carbonate pills which is ground up gravel. No wonder people get stones or hi blood calcium fron eating what is essentially rock! Perhaps your nurse meant for you to take ELEMENTAL calcium amounts as, example, 1000mg of calcium carbonate has only 40% elemental calcium, or 400mg of calcium. If a nurse says take 1000mg, you would only be getting 400mg of "real" calcium. Happened to me when the nurse called & told me to take 375mg iron 3x daily! I would have to eat an iron skillet a day to get that much. I figured out later she meant iron sulphate pills which come in that size but have a fraction of elemental iron in them. Calcium citrate is only 21% elemental calcium.
You might want to explore trying the Jarrow brand of bone supplement called Bone-Up which is a microcrystalline hydroxyapitite form of calcium from new zealand calves. Also has D3 in it & K2 (as MK7) vitamine. I think boron, too. You can just google Bone-Up but other vitamin companies also use this type of calcium supplement. Jarrow is a popular brand found in ane vitamin store or on Amazon. Remember that calcium supplements are notorious for being constipating but maybe thats just the calcium carbonate/rock form of it which I haven't touched since the 1950's!
You might want to explore trying the Jarrow brand of bone supplement called Bone-Up which is a microcrystalline hydroxyapitite form of calcium from new zealand calves. Also has D3 in it & K2 (as MK7) vitamine. I think boron, too. You can just google Bone-Up but other vitamin companies also use this type of calcium supplement. Jarrow is a popular brand found in ane vitamin store or on Amazon. Remember that calcium supplements are notorious for being constipating but maybe thats just the calcium carbonate/rock form of it which I haven't touched since the 1950's!
500 mg of magnesium oxide is enough to cause some serious D for many of us.Thanks for pointing that out, Lisa. If the manufacturer wasn't so focused on cost (at the expense of effectiveness), they could probably accomplish the same goal (safely) with about 200 mg of magnesium glycinate.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
So Right About Magnesium Oxide!
I take this brand-- Bone-Up-- because I'm desperate to improve my bone density as I'm now taking a high dose of prednisone/steroid due to a sudden muscle paralysis condition that mimics myasthenia gravis. This started in June 2015 & I was suddenly unable to chew, swallow, breath, my muscles are numb. I was unable to rise from bed or toilet (tuff if one has colitis!) as my muscles completely failed... especially my leg, hip & arm muscles. Eyes droopy. Doctors still trying to figure this out but meanwhile, my condition is improving & I've reduced the prednisone. Also started the Forteo daily injections for osteoporosis. (Have taken 5mg daily prednisone for several years due to crippling rheumatoid arthritis so I definitely try to watch the osteoporosis problem which I don't want; have osteopenia.)
Tex, I also take 400mg daily of Magnesium glysinate on top of getting 500mg of the mag oxide from Bone-Up. And get another 144mg of magnesium taken as magnesium l-threonate. Haven't had colitis problem for about a month--knock on wood. It comes & goes-- comes at the same time as an RA flare as both are an inflammatory problem for me. I would love to find another brand of hydroxyapatite that didn't have all the other "stuff" that Jarrow adds to their product. I already have vitamins K, boron, copper, mag glycinate, D3, etc in my kitchen cabinet that I'd prefer to add myself to a straight hydroxyapatite product. I used to take such a product but it was hugely expensive so I HAD to go to the Jarrow brand due to the exorbitant price of the other brand-- whose name I don't recall. I should definitely do more research & find another source for the hydroxyapatite-- one that isn't outrageously expensive. (Altho when it comes to the importance of bone density, I should probably not worry so much about the expense of most hydroxyapatite products.)
Tex, I also take 400mg daily of Magnesium glysinate on top of getting 500mg of the mag oxide from Bone-Up. And get another 144mg of magnesium taken as magnesium l-threonate. Haven't had colitis problem for about a month--knock on wood. It comes & goes-- comes at the same time as an RA flare as both are an inflammatory problem for me. I would love to find another brand of hydroxyapatite that didn't have all the other "stuff" that Jarrow adds to their product. I already have vitamins K, boron, copper, mag glycinate, D3, etc in my kitchen cabinet that I'd prefer to add myself to a straight hydroxyapatite product. I used to take such a product but it was hugely expensive so I HAD to go to the Jarrow brand due to the exorbitant price of the other brand-- whose name I don't recall. I should definitely do more research & find another source for the hydroxyapatite-- one that isn't outrageously expensive. (Altho when it comes to the importance of bone density, I should probably not worry so much about the expense of most hydroxyapatite products.)