Trying to rebuild our bone tissue as we age may require us taking medication, although a wellness expert claims he has successfully treated bone mineral density (BMD) issues with natural hormone supplements. So does this mean we have more wellbeing options than medicine to increase our BMD?
Why back up bone density
The reason we may need to boost our BMD is because it naturally declines with age. Women’s bones are believed to be strongest around the age of 30, as this is when our bone mass stops being laid down. After this there is a long period of decline in bone cells which is quickened by the menopause, some cancer treatments and a sedentary lifestyle. Men lose BMD too, but the process is slower, although bone mass is also affected by hormone treatments and poor nutrition/inadequate exercise. When BMD is low enough so that we can break bones from a minor fall we may get diagnosed with osteoporosis and be offered medicine to boost BMD.
Medicine or hormones?
Medicine to increase bone mass generally works by either blocking cells that erode bones (osteoclasts) or promoting those that make bone cells (osteoblasts). These drugs can have some serious side effects and some have even been linked with increased chance of fractures. Now Doctor John R Lee has published a book where he details how women given hormones supplements boosted their BMD. The research showed how 100 women with an average age of 62.5 were given natural progestogen along with their current brittle bone treatment.
Results of the review show that BMD increased by up to five per cent a year, until it reached the level of a 35-year-olds’, where it stabilised. The participants who saw the quickest increase were those measuring the lowest BMD at the beginning of the study. Dr Lee explains that he would like to see all women suffering from osteoporosis offered natural progestogen supplements, in addition to exercise and nutrition treatments. We can approach our doctors if we feel we want to discuss these aspects of our osteoporosis care.
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