What Every Woman Should Know About Menopause And Osteoporosis by

[Guest guest]

Yes progesterone is important. In fact probably more important then estrogen

as progesterone actually stimulates new bone formation!

This artocle was written before they discoverd the connection with Fosamax

and ONJ, so the Fosamax part is definitely outdated.

 

*Osteoporosis / Bone Density and natural progesterone*

 

*Symptoms of Osteoporosis*

 

Osteoporosis presents itself very subtly in the body and its changes can be

marked by dry skin, brittle finger nails, sometimes receding gums and lower

back pain. Of course there can be other things like spontaneous fractures or

easily occurring fractures, shrinkage in height and, for older women, the

appearance of a " dowager's hump " .

 

*Testing Bone Density*

 

A bone mineral density (BMD) test measures the mineral density in the bone

by bouncing a dual photon beam of light off the bone, measuring the

difference in the density between bone and soft tissue. This shows how

porous the bones have become and at what risk you are of having a fracture

or degree of osteoporosis.

 

Many woman have started to lose bone after age 30 so it's a good idea to

have a bone density test quite young, maybe 35, to have a base level to

compare with later on.

 

Evidence suggests women take three (3) consecutive bone mineral density

tests with the same machine for three (3) years and then make a decision

based on those results, incorporating other precautionary factors such as

good diet, progesterone supplementation, and avoid the risk factors that

contribute to osteoporosis.

 

Why suggest 3 bone mineral density on the same machine?

 

Because there can be slight errors on the machine and if there is a plus or

a minus either side, the third one usually shows an average result of the

bone mineral density outcome. It can also take more than three years to

rebuild bone.

 

*Risk Factors of Osteoporosis*

 

Some Risk Factors of Osteoporosis Include:

 

- Hormone imbalance

- Smoking / substance abuse

- Body type / build

- Antacids

- Tea & coffee consumption

- Family history, diet and lifestyle

- Cortisone

- Stress

- Vitamin D deficiency ~ lack of sunlight

 

*Treating Osteoporosis with Fosamax*

 

There are a number of ways to protect ourselves against osteoporosis - a

silent disease that leaves our bones brittle and porous, and prone to

fractures.

 

Fosamax (alendronate) is one approach. This drug - the first nonhormone

remedy for osteoporosis - prevents and treats bone-thinning. It apparently

slows bone breakdown, builds bone mass, and reduces the chance that bones

will break.

 

Typically, Fosamax is prescribed for the treatment of osteoporosis in women

after menopause. But it doesn't work for everyone.

 

In fact, some patients can develop side-effects to this drug that include

severe digestive reactions including irritation, inflammation or ulceration

(occasionally severe and/or with bleeding) of the esophagus (the tube that

connects your mouth with your stomach). These reactions can cause chest

pain, heartburn or difficulty or pain upon swallowing. The most commonly

reported side effect is abdominal (stomach) pain. Bone, muscle or joint

pain, headache, or an altered sense of taste have been reported by some

patients. Allergic reactions such as hives or swelling of the face, lips,

tongue and/or throat which may cause difficulty in breathing or swallowing

have also been reported. Mouth ulcers have occurred when the tablet was

chewed or dissolved in the mouth.

 

Another down-side to Fosamax is the need to stay fully upright for at least

30 minutes after taking this medication (on an empty stomach).

 

*How our Bodies Build Bone*

 

Our bodies go through a continuous bone-building cycle, in which old bone is

broken down and new bone is formed. This balanced process keeps our skeleton

healthy and strong.

 

Osteoporosis is caused by an imbalance in this cycle, in which too much bone

is broken down and not completely built.

 

The late Dr Lee gave us a perfect analogy of the two phases involved in

keeping our bones strong. He suggests we think of the two players in bone

integrity as 'pacmen'.

 

One class of 'pacmen' are the *osteoclasts* that move to various parts of

your bone to find old bone and dissolve it away (bone resorption). Once this

is completed, the other 'pacmen' called *osteoblasts* move on it to start

building new bone (new bone formation).

 

Then your body goes into a resting phase where your bones remain good for a

certain length of time before it gets old and crystallises and our pacmen

get back to work.

 

*Osteoporosis and Hormones*

 

We know that the onset of oesteoporosis correlates with *hormone

imbalance*in both women and men. Osteoporosis is often referred to as

a disease of

estrogen deficiency, and is usually medicalised as a disease occurring at

menopause.

 

The fact that a female's bone loss starts in her mid thirties when estrogen

levels are high indicates that estrogen does not totally prevent bone loss.

Estrogen will slow the rate of bone loss by slightly poisoning the

'osteoclasts' thereby slowing down resorption, but it DOES NOT reverse it.

 

*What does appear to correlate here is progesterone levels.* When a woman

reaches her mid thirties she may fail to ovulate every period (anovulatory

cycle), leading to a decline in progesterone production.

 

It's interesting that osteoporosis begins to set in 10 to 15 years before

menopause, around the time a woman begins to experience a deficiency in

progesterone. The most important factor in osteoporosis is the *lack of

progesterone,* which causes a decrease in new bone formation.

 

Evidence suggests that progesterone receptors are present in osteoblasts and

that adding progesterone will actively increase bone mass and density and

can reverse osteoporosis. Some doctors prescribe conventional HRT in the

form of combination estrogen and artificial progestins, or even estrogen

alone (if you no longer have an intact uterus).

 

We know that estrogen can retard bone resorption, however, the accumulated

old bone is not *good* bone and results in an *increase* in hip fracture. A

marked decline in estrogen levels at menopause can accelerate bone loss

initially then, after a few years, this will plateau out again.

 

Given that many women are making adequate estrogen via their fat cells,

muscle cells, and skin, progesterone alone may be sufficient to prevent

and/or reverse osteoporosis.

 

Artificial progestins used in conventional HRT are *not* identical to the

progesterone made by a woman's ovary, and therefore do not do the same work

in bone building. In fact, artificial progestins may prevent any real

progesterone that may be circulating in the body from occupying

bone-building receptors, negating any bone-building benefits as both compete

for the same receptor site.

 

*Protecting Yourself Against Osteoporosis*

 

Chronic stress may cause high cortisol levels in the body that also

interfere with bone building. Steroids, like prednisone, are often

prescribed to reduce inflammation from a variety of medical problems. These

medicines may be essential for a person's medical treatment, but they have

potential side effects, including decreased calcium absorption.

 

Contrary to popular belief, magnesium rather than calcium is a much bigger

player and far more important in maintaining bone integrity. Up to 70

percent of women are magnesium-deficient. It's a fact, osteoporosis occurs

in people who eat plenty of calcium as in people who don't eat much at all.

Women taking calcium to ward off osteoporosis should be sure to get enough

magnesium, too. The body aims to keep the two minerals in balance.

 

Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with greater incidence of hip

fractures. Vitamin D aids in the absorption of calcium, helping to form and

maintain strong bones. It promotes bone mineralization in concert with a

number of other vitamins, minerals, and hormones.

 

Ultraviolet (UV) rays from sunlight trigger vitamin D synthesis in the skin.

However, season, latitude, time of day, cloud cover, smog, and sunscreens

affect UV ray exposure. Fair skinned individuals need far less exposure to

receive their dose of sun to produce vitamin D. Lighter skin allows for

greater penetration of UV-B, leading to higher levels of D. People with dark

skin pigmentation (melanin) would need considerably more sun to generate

vitamin D. Actually, Vitamin D isn't a vitamin at all but a steroid hormone

precursor produced by the skin, and is an essential and active element of

the endocrine system. Laboratory, animal, and epidemiologic evidence suggest

that vitamin D may be protective against some cancers.

 

*Additional Suggestions*

 

Additional suggestions:

 

- Commence 15-25mg/day USP progesterone supplementation (that can be

safely continued through to old age)

- Regular bone density checks (every 1-2 years, if anxious)

- Periodic saliva-based hormone profiles to ensure hormone balance

- Adopt a healthy lifestyle and eating habit as a way of life (low

protein)

- Eliminate things from your diet that can contribute to osteoporosis

- Eat plenty of green vegetables, whole grains and fibre

- Regular weight bearing exercise

- Reduction of stress

- Caution with the use of all medications

- Fresh air and sunlight (natural vitamin D synthesis)

- Take 400-600mg magnesium supplement daily

- Take 200mg Vitamin C supplement daily

- Take 15-30mg Zinc supplement daily

- Take 50mg Vitamin B6 supplement daily

- Take 800-1000mg Calcium daily (via diet if possible)

- Take 15mg Beta-carotene supplement daily

 

Please note: Some of the above supplements can be found in a balanced,

over-the-counter formulation designed to build, strengthen and support the

bones, joints, collagen, tendons, ligaments and cartilage. *Bottom line:

Progesterone has been shown to stimulate new bone formation,* and is a vital

link in a chain of multiple factors which together are necessary for good

bone building.

 

Catherine Rollins

 

 

--

Gail Hess

Natural hormone balancing support group

http://www.HormonallyHealthyWomen.com

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