What about once a month Boniva?  Does it fit in the category of a safe treatment for osteoporosis?

Boniva, Actonel and Fosamax are in a category of medications call bisphosphonates. They interfere with the repair of bones.

Bones are live tissue, like any other tissue in the body. When bone tissue needs repair, osteoclasts are sent into the area. For 3 to 6 weeks, they break down and remove the tissue needing repair so that the osteoblasts, which now build a strong matrix, can finish the repair process in the next 2 weeks.

Bisphosphonates interfere with the osteoclastic repair. This makes the DEXA scan or X-ray look better 6 months later because the holes in the bone formed by the osteoclasts aren’t there. Unfortunately, the X-ray cannot tell if the bone is strong or weak, just the amount of calcium or lack of ‘holes’ present. Within 2 years after these medications were given to millions of people, there appeared in the literature a marked increase in jaw fractures. These were traced back to the use of these medications, which makes sense since they interfere with bone repair. I am opposed to the use of all bisphosphonates.

In order for the bones to be healthy and be able to repair themselves, they need certain nutrients. Most of the minerals are found in potent multi-vitamins:

• calcium,
• magnesium,
• boron,
• zinc,
• manganese,
• copper.

Strontium and silicon need to be added separately. In fact, strontium at high doses (1,000 mg per day) stimulates bone repair and makes the DEXA scan look equally improved 6 months later as with the use of bisphosphonates, without the increased fracture risk.

Vitamins are also necessary for bone health-especially

• vitamin C,
• A,
• B6,
• folic acid,
• K and
• D.

All the above suggestions you can do on your own. There are certain hormones that also effect bones, but you may need  physician to help assess those needs. Hormones important for the proper functioning of bones include

• parathyroid hormones,
• thyroid hormones,
• growth hormone,
• DHEA,
• estrogen and
• progesterone.

Dietary changes are also important-the following must be avoided:

• phosphates in soda pop,
• sugar and
• caffeine (all of which increase the loss of calcium from the kidney).
• Eat lots of green leafy vegetables.