Looking for Osteopenia Recommendations???

[CurtisM]

My mother has Osteopenia which is a decrease in bone density and usually a precursor to osteoporosis.  I am having her increase the quality of calcium in her diet through high calcium foods and also taking a quality calcium supplement. I am also putting her on an exercise plan to do more weight bearing activities.  However, she still seems convinced that she needs to take Actonel prescribed by her her doctor to cope with the issue. Many of the side affects including muscle and joint pain she seems to have.  Any recommendations on how to get her off this medication??? I firmly believe that she can keep her bones strong by eating plenty of calcium/ vitamin D for absorption and exercising regularly but she seems to think otherwise.  Am I wrong with this assumption?

[GloriaC]

Hi,
I have also been diagnosed with osteopenia and my mother had osteoporosis.
Having been a milk drinker all my life, I found it difficult to believe that I was lacking in calcium/Vit D.  I think that, in my case, other nutritional deficiencies contributed to the gradual bone loss.  Also, I have been suffering from digestive issues for a number of years and I think that these gut issues have caused malabsorption of vitamins and minerals.   My acupuncturist suggested that I do a Digestive Stool Analysis to check for bacterial, fungal or parasitic infection.  As it turned out, I did have a Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO).  He gave me a natural anibiotic herb and put me on a a no grain diet.  Well, I can't tell you how much better I feel
and my calcium and Vit D levels have gone up,too.  In a few months, I will be rechecking my bone density and hope to see an improvement there as well.

[ConnieD]

Hi Curt,
I was diagnosed with osteopenia several years ago and have been able to increase my bone density (according to DEXA scans) using an all natural protocol. 
In addition to what you mentioned, I eat prunes daily.  In an investigation of blood tests of 58 postmenopausal women, the women who ate approximately twelve prunes (100 gm) per day for 3 months test results showed the presence of enzymes and growth factors that indicated bone formation in their bodies.  These markers were not seen in women who did not eat prunes.  None of the women who ate the prunes suffered any negative G.I side effects.  This amount of prunes also fulfils the RDA requirements for boron (2 to 3 mg).  Boron is essentail for bone metabolism and is a necessary factor in preventing osteoporosis.  (Murray. "The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods", 308)
Another area I find interesting and that I utilize is whole body vibration.  You may be aware of this technology that developed from the Russian space program 30 years ago.  Because bone loss is a concern for those who live in weightless environments, vibration training was developed to engage and stimulate as many muscle fibers as possible, which researchers hoped would help maintain bone mass.  The initial research that I have seen indicated some bone growth.  I have not checked recently, because for me it is enough just not to loss any more bone.  powerplate.com

Hope this is helpful,
Coni