Nutrition & bone health
Key minerals for bone health — strontium
by Dr. Susan E. Brown, PhD
Strontium is a mineral that naturally exists and is present in small amounts in
our food and water. Strontium has a high affinity for bone and is thought to play
a critical role in bone health. It tends to migrate to the sites where active remodeling
is taking place and promotes mineralization
of the bones and teeth. There are about 320 mg of strontium in the body, with 99%
located in the bones and teeth. The typical daily diet is thought to provide from
as little as 1 mg to more than 10 mg strontium. (This stable mineral form of strontium
found in food and water should not be confused with the radioactive form of strontium
that is produced by nuclear reactors or by explosion of nuclear weapons.)
In the periodic table you will find strontium below
calcium and it belongs to the same chemical family as calcium and
magnesium. In fact, because of its similarities, strontium is capable
of replacing a small proportion of calcium in the calcified crystals of bone and
teeth. As it appears, strontium adds strength to these tissues, making them more
resistant to breakdown. Strontium also appears to draw extra calcium into the bone.
Dietary strontium is consumed in very small, milligram quantities and is considered
a natural and beneficial bone nutrient. It is found in most plant foods, dairy foods,
Brazil nuts, and again, naturally in drinking water.
Very high-dose (several hundred milligrams) synthetic strontium ranelate (Protelos)
has been developed in Europe as a prescription osteoporosis medication and is used
for the purpose of both halting bone breakdown and enhancing new bone formation.
Return to table
Our Personal Program is a great place to start
At the Center for Better Bones we promote an all-natural approach to bone regeneration
and repair that includes nutrition, diet, exercise, and lifestyle guidance. Our
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- For more information about the at-home program for Better Bones, please call The
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Original Publication Date: 04/11/2000
Last Modified:
08/25/2010
Principal Author: Dr. Susan E. Brown, PhD