SEPTEMBER 21, 2009
Columnist Melinda Beck answers readers' questions
Q: I read your article on osteoporosis ("Saving Your Bones: Hard Choices," Sept. 15) with great interest. My older sister and I both have osteoporosis, and I've been reluctant to go on bisphosphonates for the very reasons you mention. My sister, who lives in France, is taking strontium ranelate. How is it different from a bisphosphonate, and is it safe?
A: Strontium is a natural element similar to calcium. A compound called strontium ralenate has shown promise in both delaying the resorption of old bone and stimulating growth of new bone. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2004 found that strontium ranelate reduced vertebral fractures by 41% and hip fractures 36% compared with placebos in elderly women with osteoporosis, with no more gastrointestinal effects. And unlike bisphosphonates, strontium ralenate generally comes in a powder form that can be dissolved in water and taken at bedtime, with no need to stand or sit upright for 30 minutes afterward.
A prescription version made by the French company Seriver with the brand name Protelos has been approved for use in 27 European countries, but not yet in the U.S.
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