Great presentation. Having been recently diagnosed with osteoporosis (just on the line of osteopenia/osteoporosis), my doctor recommended I go on anti resorption drugs. I don’t like drugs so I did My own research (still ongoing) came to pretty much the same conclusion. And I’m not a medical practitioner. DEXA compares you to a 30 yer old. That is comparing apples to oranges. And pretty broadly at that. Bone loss is part of aging and I don’t believe in altering the process with drugs. Quality of life with what we have at any age is my view. Lifestyle habits and choices will give you this. Sometimes we are thrown a curve (and I have had mine) that can contribute to the process. Understanding how that curve interferes with the body processes can give you a sound base to make improvements in your life.
Hi Mandii, I agree that anti-resorptives are not a good choice for patients that are newly diagnosed who have not explored other options when their risk of fracture is low. There is a role for these drugs but I do believe they are over utilized in this patient population. I respectfully disagree that we have to accept bone loss with aging. I understand your perspective on DEXA and I agree but I would argue that we should be able to maintain bone health through our adult lifespan with little exception. Loss of bone comes with altered nutrition, metabolism and hormonal function. If we keep these things optimized we should not see bone loss as we age!
@@Dr_DougLucas My nutrition and lifestyle is excellent. The hormone factor is at play here and that is what I was referring to as natural aging. The body doesn’t need the hormones any longer so why artificially feed them back into the body. What also declines with ageing is an active lifestyle and eating habits. These are what should be maintained and /or increased. There is not enough push out there on the nutrition side. Such as I have discovered on how the properties of certain foods can change by how it is prepared. Example. Spinach is a high oxalate food. Oxalate binds to calcium and is excreted from the body which over time can lead to bone loss. Being a lover and high consumer of spinach this was one thing I needed to modify. Boiling spinach and discarding the water greatly reduces the amount of oxalate. This is also beneficial to assist in prevention of kidney stones. Which I have also experienced. There is so much more but it is not made available to patients. Instead drugs seems to be a convenient option, regardless that the risks might be worse than lifestyle changes.
@@luciarosan4145 Hi. I am not a health professional so it would not be proper for me to recommend anything. But as you asked about my supplements I can tell you what I am currently taking by my choice. Swisse High strength Marine Collagen with Vitamin C. Marine collagen is more easily absorbed and supported with Vitamin C. It is more expensive than the usual bovine collagen so I buy when on sale. We all know about collagen for the “beauty “ marketing but it has a role to play in bone health as well. Also Calcium Citrate with Vitamin D. My natural Vitamin D is very good so I monitor my intake to not exceed RDD. This one also is better absorbed by the body. I take this because I don’t have dairy in my diet. I also gave up meat (fish yes) a few years ago so try to increase my plant protein intake. I have always been active but I now include specific bone loading exercises. Please do your own research for what works for you. I will know if my choices have had the desired result in about 12 months. It is all about quality of life for whatever time you have left. Only you can make that decision.
@@mandiigraham1596 I agree with all your nutrition recommendations. For many this isn't enough. I view hormone loss differently than you do. As a fellowship trained physician in anti-aging and metabolic medicine I think the body always does better with optimized hormones. There is a risk:benefit discussion to be had around this decision but in general hormone optimization and replacement helps in many ways to slow the expected decline of aging. If someone wants to "age naturally" that's their choice but there are expected changes that go along with that decision.
I am on bio identical hormones BIEST I was told by a doctor there is no reason I should be on them. I did not say anything, to agree or disagree, but I feel the hormones are a great benefit to me on so many levels and am convinced they help my bones density, as it has shown to have slowed down in loss. I take D3 K2 magnesium Lthreonate, stromium boron and try to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Watching your videos has helped me in taking the right quality and quantity. This adds to my arsenal in fighting bone loss. I have been watching a TH-cam from Japan - Medical Frontiers. I have never watched anything so in-depth explaining bone structure on a molecular level osteoclast and osteoblasts and their function. Japanese women have a high percentage of osteoporosis so the research is very important and will benefit all of us. Thank you for all the information you provide I feel it will help us both physically and mentally on our journey.
Japanese women have a lower bone density at peak and slower bone loss ...they also have less hip fracture incidence and a lower age of death than usa. They have the same osteoporosis as usa but leas hip fracture incidence and while they have less dense bones being very slight people even when young they do not lose as much bone mass as other countries. So I don't know where you got the idea they have a high rate of osteoparoisis ...if compared a 30 year old Japanese with a 30 year old American maybe you would come to that conclusion but they are a slighter built people over all including fat mass muscle mass height etc. And so compared to their own builds peak mass they actually have much slower degradation of their bones over time and less fractures. But they also have a lot of very elderly people in the population as well so overall as a population if more people are old more people will be over 90 there and will have more everything a 90 year old has. If that makes sense. I think the Japanese studies are very interesting though and a lot more investigation seems to be going on there in terms of studying diet excercise etc. Than in the west. Also remember the people who are 80 90 now are people who went through ww2 and had rationing in uk and Europe and I think some pretty severe famines in Japan around that time as well so their peak bone mass at 30 would have been affected by all of that ..not to mention their parents went through 2 world wars and had a lot more kids to feed with only one income and so their kids weren't well fed as children compared to say me growing up in the 80s and 90s where I had no wars no famines my parents were more than happy to overfeeding me as they didn't have 14 children like they grew up with. So all of that has to be considered when comparing us
@@Padraigp I truly apologize if I offended. I did not in any way mean to disparage Japanese peoples. The only point I wanted to make was, that there was important research into osteoporosis and that the final answer, like we see in North America, does not have to be drugs. Albeit drugs can be of benefit but unfortunately for a short period. I have been pushing back from taking drugs, to the dismay of my doctor. If I had taken them when she advised, the 5 years would has passed and I would be where I am today. The complete picture of where a patient is and what to do is not something doctors have the time to do, so incredibly sad. So it is up to us to be our own advocate and research all avenues. It is in sound boards, like this one, where we can help each other with this journey and put together all the information at our disposal. In my case I made an assumption without enough information, thank you for your input. It is interesting that my doctor only went by my DEXA to advise drugs and did not do the P1NP or CTX blood panel.
@@moniquemckenna6795 it is an absolute disgrace that doctors don't do these tests imo. My aunt has bad osteopaorsis she had menopause at 35 never put on hrt she's tsken all the drugs but not changed diet and lifestyle and had lots fo side effects and not any help for he rpoor crushed vertebrea they don't even put a brace or su0port for her. My mom who's younger than my aunt god osteoensia diagnosis changed lhabuts took herbs and supplements and has improved and no longer in the osteopenia range. She's 80. And she also reversed her t2 diabetes and high BP. She almost on no medication except codium bicarb and serranate for her ckd. I'm very proud of her. No need to apologise I'm not Japanese or anything so wasn't offended just that I think Japan is actually doing pretty well osteoparosis wise considering. And hopefully this generation coming up who don't go out to play won't be suffering horribly at 80 years old from their sedentary lifestyles. Which reminds me to beat my teenager child out the door for some exceecise later today instead of go straight to the computer! Drives me crazy to see them like that but then they socialise online these days ..im gonna shove him outside for an hour with his bike lol! Bless your health dear and I hope you find a supportive doctor it can be very dispiriting when they aren't supportive like that.
Thank you for mentioning the dangers of the bisphosphonates. More people need to understand that they can create the problems that we are trying to avoid...along with a host of other problems/risks related to these drugs.
My doctor ordered me biphosphonates. After 2 weeks, I felt a pain in my jaw. It was, luckily the time of my yearly meeting with my dentist. He founded nothing bad in my teeths and asked me which medicine cation I was taking. He explained me the risks of biphosphonates. I stopped taking them. After that, I stopped Evista because unbearable side effects. What to do now ?
I started on Fosamax. My doctor says that the risks ramp up 8 years in, so I agreed to take it for a year. My mother and maternal grandmother both had osteoporosis and I think I remember that my grandmother had a broken femur. I'm doing so much else - ramping up protein, calcium, vitamin C, and working through an exercise programme, so there are so many variables that could confound any improvement shown with Fosamax! I need to take the Master Class; I have a very important appointment on December 19 so it'll have to be the next one after that.
Thank you for sharing your story-you're doing a fantastic job taking proactive steps for your bone health! I wanted to let you know that the Masterclass is recorded, so if you can’t attend live, you’ll receive the recording via email afterward as long as you are registered here --> www.optimalhumanhealth.com/build-bone
So so informative. diagnosed with severe osteoporosis and had Reclast infusion. has made me so fragile with the side effects. I would never recommend it to anyone. Thank you for the great content.
it sure is GREAT to hear these things, Dr.! I’ve been told I’m doomed because of the only dexa I’ve ever had, with no bio markers panel. I’ll take your masterclass, watch all your videos, contact your clinic and pray. thank you!
I’m 70 Vegan 16yrs and distance runner 46 yrs. I lift once weekly dx osteoporosis. Would taking more DHEA help or hurt I already take K2 mk7 Prunes ….Almonds …. no caffeine
Thank you for this video. I am 62 years old, small (5'2", 120 lbs) and was diagnosed with osteopenia at age 50, I had another scan done at age 54 (went to osteoporosis), another at age 58 (8% worse), then my recent test which indicated that I am 20% worse than my baseline. I saw two doctors at age 54, one recommended meds, the other did not (she took my lifestyle into account and also said I was too young). I took the advice of the one that said no drugs. Since I am a vegan, doctors immediately say it is my diet and that I do not get enough calcium. Well, my calcium levels have been checked and they are high normal. Vitamin D also normal. I make sure I eat well (lots of beans, tofu, vegetables, fruits, etc - I am not a junk food vegan). Also, up to the last three years I have been lifting weights 4 x a week - and I mean lifting heavy weights. Actually I have been lifting weights since I was 20 years old. When Covid shut the gyms down, I started working out with bands and weights at home. It has really only been the last year that I have slacked off and mostly just walk (4 miles a day). Since the latest diagnosis, however, I rejoined the gym and have started weight lifting again, I've also watched numerous videos on the best exercises for osteoporosis....I feel as if this is one disease that I just should not have. Not only do I weight lift, walk and exercise, I also kayak, bike snow shoe, I lead an active life. It isn't like I am a couch potato. I really thought my last scan would have at least remained the same, but in the last 4 years it got so much worse. What else can I do? I am not on any medications and wish to remain prescription free! Thank you.
Estrogen is the biggest factor. Look into HRT with estrogen and progesterone on a rhythmic cycle. Ask a compounding pharmacy to refer you to a doctor. Harbor Compounding in San Diego or Denton Rx in Texas. This is not “medication”. It’s replacing what your body has stopped producing.
Hi Angela, thank you for sharing. One big factor you are missing in your description of your diet is protein. Additionally gut dysfunction from a whole food vegan diet is also possible. I'm not suggesting that the cause of bone loss has to be your diet but it's a big target. I see it all the time and the research supports that position. @genxx2724 is correct also that hormones play a big role.
Drs like to pick at vegetarians. I m trying to be WFPB.not 100%.but doing my best. Found out my body doesn't absorb all the good things I feed it. That s my problem. Will work on it. Doing some ex.not as much as you.but trying. I d suggest HRT compound. My GY swears by it.
@@curiousmind3710 You may need digestive enzymes. Older people don’t digest as well, so don’t get nutrients. Look into “Swanson Triple Strength Pancreatin 4x”. Take after every meal.
@@curiousmind3710 Thanks for sharing. I'd like to offer the counter argument that doctors in general have accepted a WFPB diet as healthy. I am in the minority who see it fail too many people. It looks good on paper but very difficult to do in reality and the real impact is muscle loss, gut dysfunction and poor bone health.
Thank you very much abot DEXA and best tests for Osteoporosis. Very informative. The more l look further and ask questions l find a wealth of new information regarding many topics that affect me. One must look further than just what your PCP tells you! Im an RN and now "looking further" has been my innate nursing mind at work!!!
Dexa scan done. No drugs for me. Started using a Home Vibration Plate, exercising and stretching everyday alone with 5 minutes at a time on and off the Vibration Plate. Thanks for your Podcast. Gotta love the Good side of You Tube. Wish you were in St. Petersburg FL.
I love listening to you b/c there is so much information out there - and it’s all over the board. I like your video regarding finding out WHY I have osteoporosis first so you can recover. Would you do a video (excuse me if you already cover this elsewhere) stating what exactly we want to draw blood for. What is the first thing I should look for in my search for the Reason as it relates to blood work. Thank you. Knowledge is Power - but finding the “right” and “correct” knowledge can be a challenge in this world of social media etc.
Hello, Thank you for the feedback. We are always looking for a balance of TH-cam content and directed content like DIY programs and our full service physician program. To explain the full process either of those two options may be better. We have to be careful how we deliver information on the platform for fear of misdirecting someone without providing them enough resources as a patient of DIY client. I hope that makes sense.
Hi Dr. DOUG. THANKS so much for this great video and info about bone health. I'm 51, and my Dexa scan showed osteoporosis. I've been doing keto for 5 years to improve my health. The low bone density results were a shock after working very hard on being healthy. I also did Intermediate Fasting, and I just read that this may cause bone loss. 😢 I look forward to getting the blood tests you recommended.
Scott, I too have done keto and I.F., and last week was diagnosed with Osteoporosis. It has been a huge huge help to my diabetes plus my non-alcoholic cirrhosis of my liver……and makes me ill to think that THIS is what has contributed TO my Osteoporosis. I don’t know which way to turn,now. 3-25-2025. I have had such a huge turn around that I don’t WANT to change that progress.
@carolcole570 I just purchased a weight vest (adjustable weight) at Dicks sporting goods. OMG! I am walking with 23 pounds, and I can feel my bones getting better, only 4 days later. I don't know what else to do to improve bone density. Good luck to you in this struggle!
Hi! Yes, we have two videos on this. One is called "Proven Ways to SLOW Bone Loss | CTX Research" and the other is "Proven Ways to Increase Bone Building | Increase P1NP".
Thanks for this perspective, I have been lifting heavy and doing CrossFit for 2 years now. I started because my dexa numbers were borderline of reaching an osteoporosis dx when I was 55, I am now 57 my dexa has not improved so it is very discouraging. How ever I do wonder about bone quality because compared to many females my age I can always lift, push and pull more than they can. I deadlift my body weight 152, 10 reps, and can do a few pull ups unassisted. May be I'm not that bad. Problem is I am at 33% body fat, need to lose some weight , but research indicates that when ever you lose weight, bone mass likely decrease as well. Any tips tricks or ideas how to do this ?
Hi Patricia, Thanks for sharing! You are correct that weight loss will generally provoke some bone loss. Similarly it will provoke muscle loss. It's part of being anabolic. What we do for patients that need to lose weight is focus on optimizing diet and watching weight come off more slowly than if we were focusing on weight loss as a primary goal. We can see a bit of weight loss but watch very closely muscle mass and bone health. If someone needs to improve bone health as a primary goal we will shelf weight loss until we have optimized their bone health trajectory. Does that make sense?
Are you able to make a video about how kidney health affects bone health? I recently discovered the connection, and as a 60 year old with both osteopenia and chronic kidney disease, much of the supplementation that improves bone health worsens my kidney disease. Thanks!
Great question! Checkout The OsteoCollective if you have not yet, you get exclusive access to me and a community of people pursuing health and longevity. These are things that we discuss in there and it allows us to go into detail rather than doing short chats through this platform. You can find more information here --> www.optimalhumanhealth.com/osteocollective
Great information. I'm trying to correlate this information with my own situation. I'm 70 years old male taking eligard for prostate cancer. Just had a DEXA done that shows osteoporosis. I can certainly follow some of the nutrition advice although I'm not sure about supplements as my oncologist is concerned about anything that could fuel the cancer. Any recommendations would be helpful.
Thank you so much for sharing all of this. It sounds like you could benefit from the next free Bone Foundations Masterclass we have coming up if you have not attended one before. You can find more information here -->www.optimalhumanhealth.com/build-bone
Can you order these two bloodtests anywhere in europe? Your video was Just the video i was hoping to find out there, its more than great. It Gives My kind of my power back. When i listen to All what All of us with osteoporosis can do to revers. But bloodtests where can i order Them please? Not through My doctor, i wanna order myself.. I am so tired of the system. Hope you can help Thank you very much🌲🙏❄️
Thank you for your kind words about the video! I'm so glad it resonated with you and helped you feel more empowered. A search for "direct-to-consumer blood testing Europe" might provide specific options. If you have difficulty, please don;t hesitate to reach out again!
Just finding you. 1st dexa shows Osteopena. However, I've Carnivore for 1.5 yr. I don't know if I'm improving or declining bone health. Thanks for other tests for better picture.
Thank you for sharing this! Yes, checkout the other videos on my channel if you have not yet. We also have a free Masterclass every month that could be beneficial to you. You can find more details here --> www.optimalbonehealth.com/build-bone
TY Dr Lucas : my reminder - apart from a Dexa , get these 2 bio markers done : a P1NP and a CTX = P1NP means pro peptide type 1 collagen and ctx is a bio marker for bone breakdown . Try to get balance between both . To increase P1NP : eat protein , strength training , healthy gut , supplements (such as calcium , mg , vit D and K ) , check hormones . // I will ask my Dr for these 2 in my next appointment ! Thx ❤
@@ralphnolletti9988 Hi Ralph, it can be tough. Closest I know is in NC. There has to be more but I haven't found a good list. We are making one but it's relatively short at this point.
Isn't it amazing we have to ask them for the damn tests though. Like that is really a disgrace ... we are doing their jobs for them while they gatekeep our tests and get paid for what? They should be doing these tests without anyone even having to research all of this and ask for it. It makes me mad.
Six years ago a close relative was diagnosed with osteoporosis in one hip. She was unable to tolerate fosamax as it produced deep bone pain in the leg which lasted several months after stopping. She went off the drug began a walking program and weight bearing exercises at age 72. She increased Vit D3 (2000 IU) a day along with K2mk7 and calcium. Her next bone scan showed Ostiopenia in that hip. Three year later after enacting a religious walking and weight bearing regime a new bone scan (with a new machine) again showed Osteoporosis again in the same hip nowhere else. What to do? No way the drug can be tolerated? A bit discouraging.
Sounds like she's losing the battle. A thorough plan with all the options considered would be a great idea. You can watch out masterclass or consider an meeting with my team. www.optimalbonehealth.com/schedule
@@Dr_DougLucas Having just watched this (very informative) video, instead of "sounds like she's losing the battle", shouldn't see have P1NP & CTX marker tests?
What kind of a doctor do I need to see who would be in favor of these kinds of tests? I went to my GP today as the DEXA scan I had a few weeks ago showed osteoporosis. I’m very active, eat very well, generally healthy for 65. Immediately she wanted to put me on Fosamax. Thought blood tests would show nothing, had never heard of the Echolight scan, etc. the more naturopath type doctors are never covered by insurance. She suggested rheumatologist, but I’m afraid they’d just suggest RX as well. TY!
Great question! Checkout our health span nation if you have not yet, you get exclusive access to me and a community of people pursuing health and longevity. These are things that we discuss in there and it allows us to go into detail rather than doing short chats through this platform. You can find more information here --> www.drdouglucas.com/healthspan
As someone who is just starting my 50's, I've lost inches of height starting at 5'1" and now I'm 4'7"! It looks like I'm gonna have to sign up for your master class..
I had an X-ray of my back and hips over a year ago. I have a chronic back (actually upper butt) pain/spasms and my doctor wanted to get an X-ray of the area. It turns out that I have osteopenia of my spine with degeneration of my L2 L3. My doctor suggested going to a physiotherapist which I have since gone to 2 different ones. My pain is a bit better, but it will still spasm on me and for no good reason, my muscle is overreacting to small movements. Anyway, I’ve started taking strontium, MK7 and magnesium in the hope that it will help along with some weight training. The trouble is that I take carbamazepine for my epilepsy and that is supposedly bad for the bones. I’m at my wits end with worry, but I’m not sure what else to do. Sorry for my rant, thanks for the ear.
Hello, Medications that cause bone loss can be a challenge! Keep coming back and learning from this channel and others the tools you can use to maximize your bone health!
I am learning so much from your you tube clips. So clearly explained and hugely helpful. So interesting.. that dexa doesn't tell whole story. Thank you, thank you!
Please can you do a video on male osteoporosis, specifically young males.My 30 year old son was diagnosed after fracturing 3 thoracic vertebrae, so any information you can give would be most helpful.
I am so frustrated! I am in my late 60’s and just had a dex scan and was informed by the radiologist that I should be put on drugs. I have been working out most of my life with weights. Added rebounder and vibrations exercises to my routine. Cut out sugar, sweets and carbs. Increased protein and am still told this message. I stopped taking vitamin D k2 because last year physical said my vitamin D was too high. I feel healthier and stronger than ever. Never broken a bone. Am a petite person, low fat weight and don’t understand what more I can do or if I should even worry about yesterday’s scan. Very frustrating!
Hi There. I’m sorry you feel frustrated. We see this very commonly in our patients. If you haven’t been to our masterclass that could help. Its fee and link is in description. The next step would be to get on a program that looks at ALL of the options and helps to create a custom plan. Either through self directed OR full service programs.
Thank you! Just diagnosed with Osteoporosis age 61. bone scan femoral bone ( -2.9), lumbar(-2.9), hip (-2.6). 6 years in menopause (history of endometriosis that went quiet in menopause due to estrogen drop). History of fibro, neuro symptoms with some damage, slight hypothyroid(low dose armour). Normal BMI. Walked hilly 2M walk daily since mid 3o's. Added yoga 13 years ago do help recover from neuro attacks. whole foods diet with grass fed meat only/lots of veggies most of my life, high plant based with some fish, chicken, rare red meat. Nutrient dense organic diet. Gf and df last 13 years due to autoimmune like issues. Highly sensitive to meds with history of adverse reactions and neuro attacks provoked by some(long lasting and brutal), so hesitant about the drugs and scared from horror stories I read. Is Strontium citrate used in algaecal and food for life bone grow programs safe and build good bone in your experience? Or just their plant based Calcium alone w/o the strontium? Why aren't there more studies being done with it since peoples results seem remarkable on the scans? I'm upping my exercise regiment and doing yoga more frequently adding light weights. I fractured my wrist last year during bad fall on rock while hiking.
Hello, Quite a story. I'm sorry for your challenges. Consider joining our master class to help create a comprehensive plan or talk to our team to see if our programs could be a good fit for you. To answer your question about research. Funding is limited for non pharmaceutical interventions. Take a look at our strontium video for more on that topic.
So glad I found you! I have suffered multiple vertebral compression fractures recently from just run of the mill housework, I was stunned and incapacitated for weeks, I am frantic to get back to my vigorous and active life, DEXA shows osteoporosis of the spine. How soon can I start exercises, I have completed 30 sessions of PT but do not want to risk any new fractures. Also, is it true that taking calcium supplements can cause problems with arteries becoming stiff and thick? Thank you for listening !
Hi Nan, Sorry to hear about your fractures. They often catch people by surprise! Ask your PT when you can start more rigorous exercise. They know you well after 30 sessions! Take a look at this video to answer your calcium question! th-cam.com/video/erat2fS7XZo/w-d-xo.html
I was just diagnosed as osteoporotic and got the results of DEXA which I don't understand. My doc has not yet talked with me, but I know I do not want to start drugs for it. My issue is I am dealing with moderate and sone severe spinal stenosis and am in pain now. I want to try to heal naturally with exercise and diet. I see a chiropractor weekly at this point. No one ever talks about osteoporosis and spinal stenosis and what to do. Any thoughts on this?
Great question! Checkout The OsteoCollective if you have not yet, you get exclusive access to me and a community of people pursuing health and longevity. These are things that we discuss in there and it allows us to go into detail rather than doing short chats through this platform. You can find more information here --> www.optimalhumanhealth.com/osteocollective
Thank you I appreciate all your information… I just got diagnosed with a 2.5 on my hip and spine… And they want to put me on Proia and I am so not doing that… I’m going to try exercise and upping everything I’ve been doing
I took fosamax for 2 years and it did help. But now I’m having issues with thyroid & I’m pretty sure adrenals, feel terrible most of the time. Went gluten & lactose free, changing diet. This is the worst thing to deal with. Also think it’s due to emotional trauma I experienced.
Thank you for sharing, I am sorry to hear this. Our Free Bone Foundations Masterclass could be beneficial to you if you have not attended one before. You can find details at this link --> www.optimalbonehealth.com/bone-foundations-master-class
I rewatched this video because I just received my Beta Crosslaps CTx result. It had to be done in Australia and it was so expensive! No one in Malaysia has ever ordered this test, resulting in a lot of confusion with the local labs here and even my doctor. They didn't know what it was . Thank you for this easy to understand video I couldn't really find any concise information on how to read the result. My result just shows one range, it does not break down male or females (pre or post menopausal). From your video, I understand that for P1NP - the higher the number, the better. For CTx, the lower the number, the better. Mine is measured in ng/L but your example for CTx is pg/ml but as you said, it doesn't matter, right?
@@Dr_DougLucas Oh yea, I did by using google's ng/L to picogram/ml and it came out to be the same. 209ng/L = 209pg/ml. I guess this is a decent range for CTx? But I will look forward to my P1NP test results soon to check against that. I've learnt a lot from u, thank u very much.
Thank you for the info! I’ve been diagnosed with osteoporosis for two years now. I will ask the GP to order the biomarkers with my next appointment. I have doubt that she will go for it…
I’m 71 love my testosterone pump cream everyday 😎I’ve been exercising everyday since 27 so glad ! I I have osteopenia , I’m going to natural path doctor and order these Blood 🩸 test asap thank you!
Como se llama la prueba de sangre por favor. Es que mire el video traducido en español y las letras están muy rápidas. Por favor me pueden decir el nombre del examen de sangre. Gracias
On nutrition, people with osteoporosis are supposed to est a lot of protein like beef, pork, chicken, legumes. I suffer from gout. I cannot eat a lot if red meats and legumes due to flare ups. Dairy are also limited as source of calcium . I cannot take lactaid everything I drink a glass of milk. What are my options?
Thank you for sharing this, unfortunately I cannot provide specific recommendations through this platform, I would need to know a little bit more about you as well. Checkout our health span nation if you have not yet, you get exclusive access to me and a community of people pursuing health and longevity. You can find more information here --> www.drdouglucas.com/healthspan
Great vid and certainly food for thought. I was diagnosed with Osteoporosis in 2010. This was after I had sustained crush fractures to a number of vertebrae. I had dropped my motorcycle at very slow speed whilst parking it and stupidly tried to pick it up from the floor quickly to save my embarrassment. The bike weighed 420lbs so not really a sensible idea. Hence i heard a popping in my back and lots of pain. I ended up having a Dexa scan and then was given calcium and vit D and alendronic acid. I couldn’t cope with this bisphosphonate once a week due to the side effects . I was then put on Ibandronic acid once a month and this was better. One thing I noted was that after taking this i had joint and muscle pain. I feel that I have been just treated for osteoporosis with Bisphosphonates without given alternatives. I am told that my bone density is that of an 80 year old. However what hasn’t been taken into account is that I am 65 year old male 5’5” height with a slight frame. They quote T scores at me when really Z scores are more appropriate but even those do not consider size. Also at the time of diagnosis i was under a lot of stress and also consuming too much alcohol about 30 units a week so not really heavy but regular. Now my lifestyle is much better very little alcohol and stress very low. Therefore listening to this vid really backed up that it isn’t about the Dexa scan, there is so much more to it. I have been in engineering all my working life so operator and machine differences from one to another is familiar to me. I wonder if when i was diagnosed a P1Np test was done and if so how that compares with today. I will ask at my next review. As an aside I have just taken out travel insurance and when it came to declaring osteoporosis the usual questions about medication were asked but additional i was asked if i had ever refused osteoporosis medication. I thought it strange as for the other conditions such as high blood pressure they never asked this. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and experience
Thank you so much for sharing all of this. I am glad to hear that this video has been helpful. It sounds like you could benefit from the next free Bone Foundations Masterclass we have coming up if you have not attended one before. You can find more information here -->www.optimalhumanhealth.com/build-bone
Hi Doctor I’m your great fan I take notes from your videos Thank you so very much You asked for a topic to be discussed in your video .I would like to know about teeth in osteoporosis Because we are supposed to inform our dentist if we have osteoporosis but mostly the dentist does not guide us well how often we should go for cleaning as they are more into our insurance benefits My dentist wants me to go to hygienist every 3 months and I want to get guidance from you Please make a video on this topic
65 year old runner, lower back pain after half marathon on the 17th of September. MRI and CT confirmed sacral stress fracture on the 26th. Vitamin D 73 nmol/L - even though the Australian guidelines say this is sufficient, I know this level isn't optimal. DEXA shows L femur neck minus 3.0, R femur neck minus 2.5, lumbar spine good, L forearm great. Have started on 5000 IUs of Vitamin D and 180 micrograms of K2, along with magnesium and zinc. With an improved diet (I've existed for decades on the typical high carb crap that a lot of runners do) and strength training, I'm quietly confident that I'll be okay (without drugs).
I’m delighted to discover your channel. Following a RTA and fracturing my C1,2 T3,4,5 and tibia plateau a Dexa scan showed -3.5 in my spine. This has been such a shock as I know my vit D and calcium levels were good. I have good microbiome (Zoe study) and diet and weight train I was cycling back from a Hiit boxing class when I was hit. The doctor wants me to take the drugs but I’m resisting and doing supplements and getting back to exercise. One question out of many is can inactivity for 4 -5 months (I was in a brace and on crutches) accelerate osteoporosis? I can’t find any data on it. Also I need to find a way in the Uk to measure strength of bone. I was doing significant weight lifting and high impact (burpees F45 Classes etc) 6 months before my Dexa. Surely I would have fractured if -3.5 is true? Help I’m 61 post menopause and didn’t take HRT so perhaps that’s the next step too
All great points! HRT is something to consider. Bone quality can be measured by REMS if you live near one. I know there are some in the UK but I'm not sure where. Keep watching our videos, come to our master class and keep learning.
Checkout our next masterclass, we discuss this further. Our healthspan nation is also a great tool for questions like this! Links for both of these are in the video description :)
I was just diagnosed with osteoporosis, I'm 65. My question is, to test for hip and spine strength and quality since a CT can not tell the bone strength how do we measure this?
Hello. Depending on the CT it can measure bone strength but most don’t. The only imaging study that gives a bone quality metric is the REMS. There are 5 of them available in the US so they may not be easy to get to.
Very informative Have osteoporosis. But do not want to take medication my doctor wants to prescribe Always felt if osteoclasts function is to break down felt it was not good to stop that So will try the blood markers if possible Thank You so much 😊😊
This video was very much informative,I am going to have my first DEXA bone density exam at the end ogf january 2024,I am a 64 year old female with no suspect to osteoporosis burt still my endocrinologist say it would be good to have done at least one,since I am on menopause for 14 years already...I will have my DEXA body mass exam in 2 weeks,want to know in what shape is my muscle mass and wheteher I have some visceral fat (I have no body fat at all,neither a little I'd like to have to look younger :-( ) but never heard of these 2 biomarkers you teel in this video,will ask my physician to dug deeper in it :-) Thanks a lot.
My name is Paula and I am 52 and lived with undiagnosed celiac until I was 33 years old. Ten years ago, they had me do a baseline bone density scan which diagnosed Osteopenia. Because our family has served in Uganda, Africa for the past 18 years, I have not been able to get or afford all of the screenings or tests. A few months ago, I felt some discomfort in my leg bones when running to take the laundry off of the line, and decided to get tested again. I got a CT BMD scan in Kenya, and it showed I still have osteopenia (L3-92.3, L1-99.8, Lumbo-sacral spine - 105.9). I am wondering if my bones are at risk of fracturing with these numbers or can my body handle proper impact. I am also perimenopausal so I am trying to do all I can now to build my bone health. I already eat very healthy. Also, does hiking help build bone. I am gaining so much knowledge from your videos! Thank you for investing in others.
@@Dr_DougLucas Hi. Does your response mean you don’t actually read the comments, but simply send a generic response, or that you don’t feel comfortable answering my question due to liability issues? I just wanted an "in most cases answer" to my question. Thanks for your time.
Are calcium hydroxyapatite and plant based (algae) calcium comparable? I have been prescribed Fosamax which I hesitate to take. I do take D3 and K2 and have for years. I make sure I eat plenty of protein . I am working hard to eliminate Omeprazole which I have taken for years for Hyatal Hernia. Trying hard to manage my bone health naturally. I am 79+ years old. I am learning so much from your videos. Thank you so very much.
You’re welcome! I haven’t seen any evidence suggesting algae calcium is better than other supplements like citrate. However, MCHC does have evidence to support superiority over other forms of calcium.
DEXA being pushed on me now. But I do my homework. Also the new drug push is Forteo. No thanks to bone cancer risk and daily injections for 18 months - and then an Rx for Fosamax. And why only 18 months? Because beyond that there known and potentially more side effects the pharmaceutical co. would not like to disclose. Thanks for this information - my ortho. would not accept a challenge to DEXA from a non orthopedist.
Hi! Checkout our health span nation if you have not yet, you get exclusive access to me and a community of people pursuing health and longevity. These are things that we discuss in there and it allows us to go into detail rather than doing short chats through this platform. You can find more information here --> www.drdouglucas.com/healthspan
I appreciate all your information and help on osteoporosis! I recently had a compression fracture at T7 or 8. I am trying to decide where to go from here. I want to start P.T. as soon as I can, but wondering what else would you recommend? My doctor wants to start me on drug infusions. I did tolerate oral bisphosphonates, so am a little reluctant to do the drug thing. Thank you in advance for any help you can give me.
Hi! Thanks for being here, unfortunately I cannot make recommendations on TH-cam. We do have a free Bone Foundations Masterclass and our Health Span Nation is a great tool to jumpstart your journey. You can find the links for both of those in the video description :)
Your expertise is extremely well presented and appreciated. What is your opinion of Low Intensity Vibration in addition to your recommendations on the presentation? I a breast cancer survivor of two years taking Letrozole and Pantoprazole. I have gone from Osteopenia to Osteoporosis since Cancer treatment, and just hadmy first infusion of Reclast. I will be returning to 13:41 using a rowing machine, weight bearing exercise, stretching, free weights, and machines. Thank you.
Great info on bio-markers. Do you have advice for hormone positive breast cancer survivors on aromatase inhibitors? Essentially no estrogen, testosterone or progesterone in our systems... Are we stuck with having to use the drugs ? Or can we sufficiently mediate with soy and vitamin k, etc?
Hello, Hormone positive breast CA does present a challenge. This scenario is challenging to control with natural methods and pharmaceuticals are often needed to prevent bone loss. However, there are several tools available to improve bone metabolism and pulling as many of those levers as possible may keep you off of drugs. I would only attempt that with direct supervision and aggressive non pharmaceutical therapy. Depending on the cancer scenario a compromise can be reached with the oncology team. To learn more about natural methods consider our master class and programs.
Thank you for an informative presentation. What can you tell us about using ultrasound to measure bone health? I stay away from any form of radiation and have found one company, Echolight, which does ultrasound bone scans, but they are not located anywhere near where I live. Do you know of any others?
Echolight REMS is what I recommend for ultrasound. I discuss REMS in this video: th-cam.com/video/LCEeByt4YiQ/w-d-xo.html. It is a fantastic option but unfortunately difficult to find access to one
So do we ask for a test for these blood markers? Estrogen therapy has its drawbacks - so how does NOT taking estrogen therapy affect osteoporosis progression.
Hi Linda, You can ask for them but you may find resistance from a physician uncomfortable with making recommendations from them. Estrogen has risks just like everything. We have a long discussion with our patients every time we consider it but often the fears from patients are not founded in up to date evidence. Can bone be improved without it? Yes, there are numerous levers to pull.
Thank you for the education.I think most primary care physicians see the dexa report and prescribe drugs. I never knew there were other markers besides DEXA. I have good insurance so I am going to request the lab tests now prior to starting OsteoStrong. I also am going to take your free MasterClass. I am grateful for this information. Much appreciated.
Thank you for sharing so much relevant information around osteoporosis. In hearing your comments around CTX values and normal range, I was disheartened to hear you say anything over 1000 is a sign of rapid bone loss. My CTX is 1400. I am on a regimen of HRT, gut health management, diet changes, specific strength exercises, etc. I have been wanting to avoid some recommended drugs Evenity and ReClast . . . after hearing your comments, I am wondering if I need to go ahead and start taking the Evenity. Thoughts?
I would need to look at the big picture. There are numerous variables to consider the biggest for someone on HRT is if the dose is adequate based on biomarkers.
Thank you so much for this video. It was extremely informative. I am in Canada in the province of British Columbia. My doctor did not know what a CTX test was. Our lab will do the test for a fee. My question is, I am 71, with a lumbar spine T score of -4.2 and left total hip minus -2.7. The left femoral neck is -3.8 and the right femoral neck -3.4. My doctors want me to take Fosamax. I am extremely fearful of taking drugs as I have had G.I. problems for many years and also extremely sensitive to any pharmaceuticals .Do you think at some point, when you have numbers like mine ,that you have to go on the drugs to prevent any fragility or compression fractures? I am hoping the CTX test will give more information to base a decision on. my understanding, from your video is that bone quality is equally as important as what the DEXA test show.
Thank you for sharing this, unfortunately I cannot provide specific recommendations through this platform, I would need to know a little bit more about you as well. Checkout our health span nation if you have not yet, you get exclusive access to me and a community of people pursuing health and longevity. You can find more information here --> www.drdouglucas.com/healthspan
I’m due for a dexa scan in November. I was told I have Osteopenia. I started doing exercises strength,resistance, cardio in the last 2 years. Should I ask my PCP to order blood works as you’ve mentioned. ? Your podcasts makes sense, the quality of bones or its strength,not just the density. Where is your masterclass ? Is this online ,WHATS the details? Thanks
Hi Barbie, Alaecal is a plant based product with good studies showing it's benefit for bones. I don't love ingredients though and point my patients toward other products with MCHC forms of Calcium.
@@Dr_DougLucas Thank you so much for your reply. Please inform on the products you believe to be beneficial. If you would please explain or do a video on this it would be very helpful and appreciated. Thank you.
This is a common area of concern. If we are supplementing, it’s not a bad idea to take them apart because of the risk of interaction however, these two minerals do occur together in nature, and I think that when we have a natural product we should look at how the components have evolved over time, and since these two come together, I think they likely can be consumed together without significant risk.
JJ, Our DIY course can walk you through how to get these labs yourself. Most doctors are not comfortable ordering all of the labs I recommend because they are not comfortable discussing the results. These particular labs in the US can be ordered from some companies. It's always changing and we do our best to keep up with that.
I was just diagnosed with osteoporosis and osteopenia on the hip.im 60 years old. I was told by my doctor to see a rheumatologist, I have an appointment next week on November 17th . Do you think I should asked my doctor to do these blood test ?
You should ask but they probably won't. If you haven't seen our master class it would be a good starting point for you. You can also download the free e-book or buy our book on Amazon to help! Links in descriptions.
Love your videos very informative. Where are you located. I would love to see if my Medicare or blue choice would cover these tests and do you masterclass
Hi Deb, We are based out of beautiful Asheville, NC. However all of our services are provided virtually. The Masterclass is free and you should be able to sign up in the description of this and any bone health video. We generally recommend using our cash pay rates for labs as we know what the cost is when doing so. We are able to order labs for insurance to bill BUT have concerns over uncovered labs being put on the patient to pay at the insurance rates which can be 10x the cash rate. It's a frustrating situation with insurance and labs in the US health care system.
Just comparing notes: Dr Susan Brown says she likes to see P1NP test around 300 and 500 is loosing to much, I heard you say you like to see it around 600 maybe under 400 - thoughts? I'm not sure what I should think if my test comes in around 500-600.
Great question! Checkout our health span nation if you have not yet, you get exclusive access to me and a community of people pursuing health and longevity. These are things that we discuss in there and it allows us to go into detail rather than doing short chats through this platform. You can find more information here --> www.drdouglucas.com/healthspan
What is your recommendation for patients who have hyperparathyroid disease? I have two imaging tests left to do prior to surgery and I had one doctor tell me to take calcium. Another told me I needed to be on a bisphosphonate. Studies I have read refute both recommendations. The endocrine specialists tell me that I shouldn't supplement prior to surgery, and not to use bisphosphonates at all, but to supplement after surgery. I have osteopenia in my hip and osteoporosis in my wrist.
Such great education here. What type of md should I seek out in my area that would address all of these factors you are discussing? I had my Dexa, tscores from 3.4-3.9., I’m 56 and healthy, moderately active. No cause determined. The PA at bone clinic talked to me for about 10 Mins and gave me a scrip for Tymlos. That’s it. Do I find an endocrinologist? Thank u!
Hello, There are no true specialists in bone health. Endocrinologists are generally sought out and they do treat it. They do what they are trained to do and usually recommend pharmaceuticals for those that are candidates. If this is what you need and are looking for that's a route to go. If you want to learn more about a comprehensive and usually drug fee approach consider our master class to learn more or discuss our approaches with our team.
Great presentation. Having been recently diagnosed with osteoporosis (just on the line of osteopenia/osteoporosis), my doctor recommended I go on anti resorption drugs. I don’t like drugs so I did My own research (still ongoing) came to pretty much the same conclusion. And I’m not a medical practitioner. DEXA compares you to a 30 yer old. That is comparing apples to oranges. And pretty broadly at that. Bone loss is part of aging and I don’t believe in altering the process with drugs. Quality of life with what we have at any age is my view. Lifestyle habits and choices will give you this. Sometimes we are thrown a curve (and I have had mine) that can contribute to the process. Understanding how that curve interferes with the body processes can give you a sound base to make improvements in your life.
Hi Mandii,
I agree that anti-resorptives are not a good choice for patients that are newly diagnosed who have not explored other options when their risk of fracture is low. There is a role for these drugs but I do believe they are over utilized in this patient population.
I respectfully disagree that we have to accept bone loss with aging. I understand your perspective on DEXA and I agree but I would argue that we should be able to maintain bone health through our adult lifespan with little exception. Loss of bone comes with altered nutrition, metabolism and hormonal function. If we keep these things optimized we should not see bone loss as we age!
Hi Mandi, I am in the sam situation. Could you please share what you have learned so far? What supplements are you taking? Thank you so much.
@@Dr_DougLucas My nutrition and lifestyle is excellent. The hormone factor is at play here and that is what I was referring to as natural aging. The body doesn’t need the hormones any longer so why artificially feed them back into the body. What also declines with ageing is an active lifestyle and eating habits. These are what should be maintained and /or increased. There is not enough push out there on the nutrition side. Such as I have discovered on how the properties of certain foods can change by how it is prepared. Example. Spinach is a high oxalate food. Oxalate binds to calcium and is excreted from the body which over time can lead to bone loss. Being a lover and high consumer of spinach this was one thing I needed to modify. Boiling spinach and discarding the water greatly reduces the amount of oxalate. This is also beneficial to assist in prevention of kidney stones. Which I have also experienced. There is so much more but it is not made available to patients. Instead drugs seems to be a convenient option, regardless that the risks might be worse than lifestyle changes.
@@luciarosan4145 Hi. I am not a health professional so it would not be proper for me to recommend anything. But as you asked about my supplements I can tell you what I am currently taking by my choice. Swisse High strength Marine Collagen with Vitamin C. Marine collagen is more easily absorbed and supported with Vitamin C. It is more expensive than the usual bovine collagen so I buy when on sale. We all know about collagen for the “beauty “ marketing but it has a role to play in bone health as well. Also Calcium Citrate with Vitamin D. My natural Vitamin D is very good so I monitor my intake to not exceed RDD. This one also is better absorbed by the body. I take this because I don’t have dairy in my diet.
I also gave up meat (fish yes) a few years ago so try to increase my plant protein intake. I have always been active but I now include specific bone loading exercises. Please do your own research for what works for you. I will know if my choices have had the desired result in about 12 months. It is all about quality of life for whatever time you have left. Only you can make that decision.
@@mandiigraham1596 I agree with all your nutrition recommendations. For many this isn't enough. I view hormone loss differently than you do. As a fellowship trained physician in anti-aging and metabolic medicine I think the body always does better with optimized hormones. There is a risk:benefit discussion to be had around this decision but in general hormone optimization and replacement helps in many ways to slow the expected decline of aging. If someone wants to "age naturally" that's their choice but there are expected changes that go along with that decision.
I am on bio identical hormones BIEST I was told by a doctor there is no reason I should be on them. I did not say anything, to agree or disagree, but I feel the hormones are a great benefit to me on so many levels and am convinced they help my bones density, as it has shown to have slowed down in loss. I take D3 K2 magnesium Lthreonate, stromium boron and try to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Watching your videos has helped me in taking the right quality and quantity. This adds to my arsenal in fighting bone loss. I have been watching a TH-cam from Japan - Medical Frontiers. I have never watched anything so in-depth explaining bone structure on a molecular level osteoclast and osteoblasts and their function. Japanese women have a high percentage of osteoporosis so the research is very important and will benefit all of us. Thank you for all the information you provide I feel it will help us both physically and mentally on our journey.
Hi Monique, thank you so much for sharing this. I am glad you are here, thank you for watching!
Japanese women have a lower bone density at peak and slower bone loss ...they also have less hip fracture incidence and a lower age of death than usa. They have the same osteoporosis as usa but leas hip fracture incidence and while they have less dense bones being very slight people even when young they do not lose as much bone mass as other countries. So I don't know where you got the idea they have a high rate of osteoparoisis ...if compared a 30 year old Japanese with a 30 year old American maybe you would come to that conclusion but they are a slighter built people over all including fat mass muscle mass height etc. And so compared to their own builds peak mass they actually have much slower degradation of their bones over time and less fractures. But they also have a lot of very elderly people in the population as well so overall as a population if more people are old more people will be over 90 there and will have more everything a 90 year old has. If that makes sense. I think the Japanese studies are very interesting though and a lot more investigation seems to be going on there in terms of studying diet excercise etc. Than in the west. Also remember the people who are 80 90 now are people who went through ww2 and had rationing in uk and Europe and I think some pretty severe famines in Japan around that time as well so their peak bone mass at 30 would have been affected by all of that ..not to mention their parents went through 2 world wars and had a lot more kids to feed with only one income and so their kids weren't well fed as children compared to say me growing up in the 80s and 90s where I had no wars no famines my parents were more than happy to overfeeding me as they didn't have 14 children like they grew up with. So all of that has to be considered when comparing us
@@Padraigp I truly apologize if I offended. I did not in any way mean to disparage Japanese peoples. The only point I wanted to make was, that there was important research into osteoporosis and that the final answer, like we see in North America, does not have to be drugs. Albeit drugs can be of benefit but unfortunately for a short period. I have been pushing back from taking drugs, to the dismay of my doctor. If I had taken them when she advised, the 5 years would has passed and I would be where I am today. The complete picture of where a patient is and what to do is not something doctors have the time to do, so incredibly sad. So it is up to us to be our own advocate and research all avenues. It is in sound boards, like this one, where we can help each other with this journey and put together all the information at our disposal. In my case I made an assumption without enough information, thank you for your input. It is interesting that my doctor only went by my DEXA to advise drugs and did not do the P1NP or CTX blood panel.
@@moniquemckenna6795 it is an absolute disgrace that doctors don't do these tests imo. My aunt has bad osteopaorsis she had menopause at 35 never put on hrt she's tsken all the drugs but not changed diet and lifestyle and had lots fo side effects and not any help for he rpoor crushed vertebrea they don't even put a brace or su0port for her. My mom who's younger than my aunt god osteoensia diagnosis changed lhabuts took herbs and supplements and has improved and no longer in the osteopenia range. She's 80. And she also reversed her t2 diabetes and high BP. She almost on no medication except codium bicarb and serranate for her ckd. I'm very proud of her. No need to apologise I'm not Japanese or anything so wasn't offended just that I think Japan is actually doing pretty well osteoparosis wise considering. And hopefully this generation coming up who don't go out to play won't be suffering horribly at 80 years old from their sedentary lifestyles. Which reminds me to beat my teenager child out the door for some exceecise later today instead of go straight to the computer! Drives me crazy to see them like that but then they socialise online these days ..im gonna shove him outside for an hour with his bike lol! Bless your health dear and I hope you find a supportive doctor it can be very dispiriting when they aren't supportive like that.
Just found out I have osteoporosis. Makes you ask why didn't anyone say something sooner. Very disappointed.
Thank you for mentioning the dangers of the bisphosphonates. More people need to understand that they can create the problems that we are trying to avoid...along with a host of other problems/risks related to these drugs.
Thank you for watching!
My doctor ordered me biphosphonates. After 2 weeks, I felt a pain in my jaw. It was, luckily the time of my yearly meeting with my dentist. He founded nothing bad in my teeths and asked me which medicine cation I was taking. He explained me the risks of biphosphonates. I stopped taking them. After that, I stopped Evista because unbearable side effects. What to do now ?
@@mariececile3973take D3 and K2 mk7
I started on Fosamax. My doctor says that the risks ramp up 8 years in, so
I agreed to take it for a year. My mother and maternal grandmother both had osteoporosis and I think I remember that my grandmother had a broken femur.
I'm doing so much else - ramping up protein, calcium, vitamin C, and working through an exercise programme, so there are so many
variables that could confound any improvement shown with Fosamax!
I need to take the Master Class; I have a very important appointment on December 19 so it'll have to be the next one after that.
Thank you for sharing your story-you're doing a fantastic job taking proactive steps for your bone health! I wanted to let you know that the Masterclass is recorded, so if you can’t attend live, you’ll receive the recording via email afterward as long as you are registered here --> www.optimalhumanhealth.com/build-bone
So so informative. diagnosed with severe osteoporosis and had Reclast infusion. has made me so fragile with the side effects. I would never recommend it to anyone. Thank you for the great content.
Thank you!
it sure is GREAT to hear these things, Dr.! I’ve been told I’m doomed because of the only dexa I’ve ever had, with no bio markers panel. I’ll take your masterclass, watch all your videos, contact your clinic and pray. thank you!
Thank you so much for your support, we look forward to talking with you!
I’m 70 Vegan 16yrs and distance runner 46 yrs. I lift once weekly dx osteoporosis. Would taking more DHEA help or hurt I already take K2 mk7 Prunes ….Almonds …. no caffeine
Thank you for this video. I am 62 years old, small (5'2", 120 lbs) and was diagnosed with osteopenia at age 50, I had another scan done at age 54 (went to osteoporosis), another at age 58 (8% worse), then my recent test which indicated that I am 20% worse than my baseline. I saw two doctors at age 54, one recommended meds, the other did not (she took my lifestyle into account and also said I was too young). I took the advice of the one that said no drugs. Since I am a vegan, doctors immediately say it is my diet and that I do not get enough calcium. Well, my calcium levels have been checked and they are high normal. Vitamin D also normal. I make sure I eat well (lots of beans, tofu, vegetables, fruits, etc - I am not a junk food vegan). Also, up to the last three years I have been lifting weights 4 x a week - and I mean lifting heavy weights. Actually I have been lifting weights since I was 20 years old. When Covid shut the gyms down, I started working out with bands and weights at home. It has really only been the last year that I have slacked off and mostly just walk (4 miles a day). Since the latest diagnosis, however, I rejoined the gym and have started weight lifting again, I've also watched numerous videos on the best exercises for osteoporosis....I feel as if this is one disease that I just should not have. Not only do I weight lift, walk and exercise, I also kayak, bike snow shoe, I lead an active life. It isn't like I am a couch potato. I really thought my last scan would have at least remained the same, but in the last 4 years it got so much worse. What else can I do? I am not on any medications and wish to remain prescription free! Thank you.
Estrogen is the biggest factor. Look into HRT with estrogen and progesterone on a rhythmic cycle. Ask a compounding pharmacy to refer you to a doctor. Harbor Compounding in San Diego or Denton Rx in Texas. This is not “medication”. It’s replacing what your body has stopped producing.
Hi Angela, thank you for sharing. One big factor you are missing in your description of your diet is protein. Additionally gut dysfunction from a whole food vegan diet is also possible. I'm not suggesting that the cause of bone loss has to be your diet but it's a big target. I see it all the time and the research supports that position. @genxx2724 is correct also that hormones play a big role.
Drs like to pick at vegetarians.
I m trying to be WFPB.not 100%.but doing my best.
Found out my body doesn't absorb all the good things I feed it.
That s my problem. Will work on it.
Doing some ex.not as much as you.but trying.
I d suggest HRT compound. My GY swears by it.
@@curiousmind3710 You may need digestive enzymes. Older people don’t digest as well, so don’t get nutrients. Look into “Swanson Triple Strength Pancreatin 4x”. Take after every meal.
@@curiousmind3710 Thanks for sharing. I'd like to offer the counter argument that doctors in general have accepted a WFPB diet as healthy. I am in the minority who see it fail too many people. It looks good on paper but very difficult to do in reality and the real impact is muscle loss, gut dysfunction and poor bone health.
Thank you very much abot DEXA and best tests for Osteoporosis. Very informative. The more l look further and ask questions l find a wealth of new information regarding many topics that affect me. One must look further than just what your PCP tells you! Im an RN and now "looking further" has been my innate nursing mind at work!!!
Yes! I am glad it was helpful!
Dr Doug--great presentation. I would greatly appreciate an article on the issue of malignant osteoclasts
Checkout this website, you may be able to find one on that topic on here --> pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23539727/
Dexa scan done. No drugs for me. Started using a Home Vibration Plate, exercising and stretching everyday alone with 5 minutes at a time on and off the Vibration Plate. Thanks for your Podcast. Gotta love the Good side of You Tube. Wish you were in St. Petersburg FL.
I'm glad to be on the good side of TH-cam :) I am licensed in Florida and do telehealth nationwide if you'd like to learn more and need assistance.
I've recent invested in one of these. I'd be interested in how you get on
@@HeatherWhiteNetworks Not clear what your question is?
I lay on my back and do my legs with a blanket folded under my calves every other day on low speed
What vibration plate did you purchase? Has it made any measurable difference?
Thanks for your very informative analyses and also for the excellent way that you present the information.
Thank you so much for your feedback. I appreciate the support!
Great info, I was prescribed Tymlos for severe Osteoporosis.
I can't find much useful information on it. Could you please do a presentation on it.
Hi! Checkout the video on my channel called "Best Drugs for Osteoporosis or Pathway to Cancer? Forteo and Tymlos the Bone Building Drugs!"
Could you please discuss Primary Hyperparathyroidism and it's role in Osteoporosis?
On our short list!
@@Dr_DougLucas
Yes, also looking forward to that class !
I love listening to you b/c there is so much information out there - and it’s all over the board. I like your video regarding finding out WHY I have osteoporosis first so you can recover. Would you do a video (excuse me if you already cover this elsewhere) stating what exactly we want to draw blood for. What is the first thing I should look for in my search for the Reason as it relates to blood work. Thank you. Knowledge is Power - but finding the “right” and “correct” knowledge can be a challenge in this world of social media etc.
Hello,
Thank you for the feedback. We are always looking for a balance of TH-cam content and directed content like DIY programs and our full service physician program. To explain the full process either of those two options may be better. We have to be careful how we deliver information on the platform for fear of misdirecting someone without providing them enough resources as a patient of DIY client. I hope that makes sense.
Hi Dr. DOUG. THANKS so much for this great video and info about bone health. I'm 51, and my Dexa scan showed osteoporosis. I've been doing keto for 5 years to improve my health. The low bone density results were a shock after working very hard on being healthy. I also did Intermediate Fasting, and I just read that this may cause bone loss. 😢 I look forward to getting the blood tests you recommended.
Thank you for sharing this! Glad you enjoyed this video
Scott, I too have done keto and I.F., and last week was diagnosed with Osteoporosis. It has been a huge huge help to my diabetes plus my non-alcoholic cirrhosis of my liver……and makes me ill to think that THIS is what has contributed TO my Osteoporosis. I don’t know which way to turn,now. 3-25-2025. I have had such a huge turn around that I don’t WANT to change that progress.
@carolcole570 I just purchased a weight vest (adjustable weight) at Dicks sporting goods. OMG! I am walking with 23 pounds, and I can feel my bones getting better, only 4 days later. I don't know what else to do to improve bone density. Good luck to you in this struggle!
I know there's a video regarding ration between ctx and p1np scores..can you remind me of the formula please. many thanks
Hi! Yes, we have two videos on this. One is called "Proven Ways to SLOW Bone Loss | CTX Research" and the other is "Proven Ways to Increase Bone Building | Increase P1NP".
Thanks for this perspective, I have been lifting heavy and doing CrossFit for 2 years now. I started because my dexa numbers were borderline of reaching an osteoporosis dx when I was 55, I am now 57 my dexa has not improved so it is very discouraging. How ever I do wonder about bone quality because compared to many females my age I can always lift, push and pull more than they can. I deadlift my body weight 152, 10 reps, and can do a few pull ups unassisted. May be I'm not that bad. Problem is I am at 33% body fat, need to lose some weight , but research indicates that when ever you lose weight, bone mass likely decrease as well. Any tips tricks or ideas how to do this ?
did you get an answer for your question ??
Hi Patricia,
Thanks for sharing! You are correct that weight loss will generally provoke some bone loss. Similarly it will provoke muscle loss. It's part of being anabolic. What we do for patients that need to lose weight is focus on optimizing diet and watching weight come off more slowly than if we were focusing on weight loss as a primary goal. We can see a bit of weight loss but watch very closely muscle mass and bone health. If someone needs to improve bone health as a primary goal we will shelf weight loss until we have optimized their bone health trajectory. Does that make sense?
Are you able to make a video about how kidney health affects bone health? I recently discovered the connection, and as a 60 year old with both osteopenia and chronic kidney disease, much of the supplementation that improves bone health worsens my kidney disease. Thanks!
Thank you for this recommendation!
Great info, thank you. I was told dexa compared your bone density to a 35 yr old. Is that true?
Great question! Checkout The OsteoCollective if you have not yet, you get exclusive access to me and a community of people pursuing health and longevity. These are things that we discuss in there and it allows us to go into detail rather than doing short chats through this platform. You can find more information here --> www.optimalhumanhealth.com/osteocollective
Great information. I'm trying to correlate this information with my own situation. I'm 70 years old male taking eligard for prostate cancer. Just had a DEXA done that shows osteoporosis. I can certainly follow some of the nutrition advice although I'm not sure about supplements as my oncologist is concerned about anything that could fuel the cancer. Any recommendations would be helpful.
Thank you so much for sharing all of this. It sounds like you could benefit from the next free Bone Foundations Masterclass we have coming up if you have not attended one before. You can find more information here -->www.optimalhumanhealth.com/build-bone
Thanks for getting back to me. I'll look into the master class.
Thank you for this very informative video ❤
Glad you enjoyed it!
Can you order these two bloodtests anywhere in europe?
Your video was Just the video i was hoping to find out there, its more than great. It Gives My kind of my power back. When i listen to All what All of us with osteoporosis can do to revers.
But bloodtests where can i order Them please? Not through My doctor, i wanna order myself.. I am so tired of the system.
Hope you can help
Thank you very much🌲🙏❄️
Thank you for your kind words about the video! I'm so glad it resonated with you and helped you feel more empowered. A search for "direct-to-consumer blood testing Europe" might provide specific options. If you have difficulty, please don;t hesitate to reach out again!
Just finding you. 1st dexa shows Osteopena. However, I've Carnivore for 1.5 yr. I don't know if I'm improving or declining bone health. Thanks for other tests for better picture.
Thank you for sharing this! Yes, checkout the other videos on my channel if you have not yet. We also have a free Masterclass every month that could be beneficial to you. You can find more details here --> www.optimalbonehealth.com/build-bone
TY Dr Lucas : my reminder - apart from a Dexa , get these 2 bio markers done : a P1NP and a CTX = P1NP means pro peptide type 1 collagen and ctx is a bio marker for bone breakdown . Try to get balance between both . To increase P1NP : eat protein , strength training , healthy gut , supplements (such as calcium , mg , vit D and K ) , check hormones . // I will ask my Dr for these 2 in my next appointment ! Thx ❤
Great plan Ana!
I have been searching for a provider that offers REMS in the mid-Atlantic and I’m drawing a blank. Can you offer a location near Maryland?
@@ralphnolletti9988 Hi Ralph, it can be tough. Closest I know is in NC. There has to be more but I haven't found a good list. We are making one but it's relatively short at this point.
Isn't it amazing we have to ask them for the damn tests though. Like that is really a disgrace ... we are doing their jobs for them while they gatekeep our tests and get paid for what? They should be doing these tests without anyone even having to research all of this and ask for it. It makes me mad.
Thanks
Thank you for watching!
Thank you so much.
Thank you for watching!
Very helpful. Thanks Dr. Lucas!
Thank you!
Six years ago a close relative was diagnosed with osteoporosis in one hip. She was unable to tolerate fosamax as it produced deep bone pain in the leg which lasted several months after stopping. She went off the drug began a walking program and weight bearing exercises at age 72. She increased Vit D3 (2000 IU) a day along with K2mk7 and calcium. Her next bone scan showed Ostiopenia in that hip. Three year later after enacting a religious walking and weight bearing regime a new bone scan (with a new machine) again showed Osteoporosis again in the same hip nowhere else. What to do? No way the drug can be tolerated? A bit discouraging.
Sounds like she's losing the battle. A thorough plan with all the options considered would be a great idea.
You can watch out masterclass or consider an meeting with my team.
www.optimalbonehealth.com/schedule
@@Dr_DougLucas Having just watched this (very informative) video, instead of "sounds like she's losing the battle", shouldn't see have P1NP & CTX marker tests?
What kind of a doctor do I need to see who would be in favor of these kinds of tests? I went to my GP today as the DEXA scan I had a few weeks ago showed osteoporosis. I’m very active, eat very well, generally healthy for 65. Immediately she wanted to put me on Fosamax. Thought blood tests would show nothing, had never heard of the Echolight scan, etc. the more naturopath type doctors are never covered by insurance. She suggested rheumatologist, but I’m afraid they’d just suggest RX as well. TY!
Great question! Checkout our health span nation if you have not yet, you get exclusive access to me and a community of people pursuing health and longevity. These are things that we discuss in there and it allows us to go into detail rather than doing short chats through this platform. You can find more information here --> www.drdouglucas.com/healthspan
As someone who is just starting my 50's, I've lost inches of height starting at 5'1" and now I'm 4'7"! It looks like I'm gonna have to sign up for your master class..
Ohh, that's significant loss! Please do. See you soon.
Very helpful. Where is your practice location?
Hi! We are 100% virtual actually :)
I had an X-ray of my back and hips over a year ago. I have a chronic back (actually upper butt) pain/spasms and my doctor wanted to get an X-ray of the area. It turns out that I have osteopenia of my spine with degeneration of my L2 L3. My doctor suggested going to a physiotherapist which I have since gone to 2 different ones. My pain is a bit better, but it will still spasm on me and for no good reason, my muscle is overreacting to small movements. Anyway, I’ve started taking strontium, MK7 and magnesium in the hope that it will help along with some weight training. The trouble is that I take carbamazepine for my epilepsy and that is supposedly bad for the bones. I’m at my wits end with worry, but I’m not sure what else to do. Sorry for my rant, thanks for the ear.
Hello,
Medications that cause bone loss can be a challenge! Keep coming back and learning from this channel and others the tools you can use to maximize your bone health!
I am learning so much from your you tube clips. So clearly explained and hugely helpful.
So interesting.. that dexa doesn't tell whole story. Thank you, thank you!
Glad it was helpful! Thank you for watching
Please can you do a video on male osteoporosis, specifically young males.My 30 year old son was diagnosed after fracturing 3 thoracic vertebrae, so any information you can give would be most helpful.
Thank you for this recommendation!
Thank you Dr. Lucas. The video was informative. Question - what do you think of Prolia? Thank you!
Hi! Checkout the video on my channel called "Prolia Denosumab, The Long Term Answer for Osteoporosis or Recipe for Disaster?"
Thanks! Will do.
Thank you for watching!
I am so frustrated! I am in my late 60’s and just had a dex scan and was informed by the radiologist that I should be put on drugs. I have been working out most of my life with weights. Added rebounder and vibrations exercises to my routine. Cut out sugar, sweets and carbs. Increased protein and am still told this message. I stopped taking vitamin D k2 because last year physical said my vitamin D was too high. I feel healthier and stronger than ever. Never broken a bone. Am a petite person, low fat weight and don’t understand what more I can do or if I should even worry about yesterday’s scan. Very frustrating!
Hi There. I’m sorry you feel frustrated. We see this very commonly in our patients. If you haven’t been to our masterclass that could help. Its fee and link is in description. The next step would be to get on a program that looks at ALL of the options and helps to create a custom plan. Either through self directed OR full service programs.
@@Dr_DougLucas thank you for reaching out. I just purchased the x3 bar system and will look into your website
Thank you for your support.@@vanessascott2009
Thank you! Just diagnosed with Osteoporosis age 61. bone scan femoral bone ( -2.9), lumbar(-2.9), hip (-2.6). 6 years in menopause (history of endometriosis that went quiet in menopause due to estrogen drop). History of fibro, neuro symptoms with some damage, slight hypothyroid(low dose armour). Normal BMI. Walked hilly 2M walk daily since mid 3o's. Added yoga 13 years ago do help recover from neuro attacks. whole foods diet with grass fed meat only/lots of veggies most of my life, high plant based with some fish, chicken, rare red meat. Nutrient dense organic diet. Gf and df last 13 years due to autoimmune like issues. Highly sensitive to meds with history of adverse reactions and neuro attacks provoked by some(long lasting and brutal), so hesitant about the drugs and scared from horror stories I read. Is Strontium citrate used in algaecal and food for life bone grow programs safe and build good bone in your experience? Or just their plant based Calcium alone w/o the strontium? Why aren't there more studies being done with it since peoples results seem remarkable on the scans? I'm upping my exercise regiment and doing yoga more frequently adding light weights. I fractured my wrist last year during bad fall on rock while hiking.
Hello,
Quite a story. I'm sorry for your challenges.
Consider joining our master class to help create a comprehensive plan or talk to our team to see if our programs could be a good fit for you.
To answer your question about research. Funding is limited for non pharmaceutical interventions. Take a look at our strontium video for more on that topic.
I would like to hear your thoughts and experiences working with patients on low vibration platforms such as the Merodyne LIV.
Hi! Checkout the video on my channel called "Vibration Therapy for Osteoporosis (Episode 1 of 3) | Interview with Dr. Clinton Rubin from Marodyne"
So glad I found you! I have suffered multiple vertebral compression fractures recently from just run of the mill housework, I was stunned and incapacitated for weeks, I am frantic to get back to my vigorous and active life, DEXA shows osteoporosis of the spine. How soon can I start exercises, I have completed 30 sessions of PT but do not want to risk any new fractures. Also, is it true that taking calcium supplements can cause problems with arteries becoming stiff and thick? Thank you for listening !
Hi Nan,
Sorry to hear about your fractures. They often catch people by surprise!
Ask your PT when you can start more rigorous exercise. They know you well after 30 sessions!
Take a look at this video to answer your calcium question! th-cam.com/video/erat2fS7XZo/w-d-xo.html
I would like to hear more specifics on women in their eighties ... thank you
Thank you for your feedback!
Going for a REMS echo light
That's great!
I will suggest blood tests you recommend to endocrinologist. Thumbs up
Hope it works out!
I was just diagnosed as osteoporotic and got the results of DEXA which I don't understand. My doc has not yet talked with me, but I know I do not want to start drugs for it. My issue is I am dealing with moderate and sone severe spinal stenosis and am in pain now. I want to try to heal naturally with exercise and diet. I see a chiropractor weekly at this point. No one ever talks about osteoporosis and spinal stenosis and what to do. Any thoughts on this?
Great question! Checkout The OsteoCollective if you have not yet, you get exclusive access to me and a community of people pursuing health and longevity. These are things that we discuss in there and it allows us to go into detail rather than doing short chats through this platform. You can find more information here --> www.optimalhumanhealth.com/osteocollective
What great information I had already stopped taking adcal D3 and aldronic acid and this video has convinced me I made the right decision.
Glad to hear that!
Thumbs up
Excellent
Thanks for watching!
Great information. Thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you I appreciate all your information… I just got diagnosed with a 2.5 on my hip and spine… And they want to put me on Proia and I am so not doing that… I’m going to try exercise and upping everything I’ve been doing
Thank you for sharing this! Glad you enjoyed this video
I took fosamax for 2 years and it did help. But now I’m having issues with thyroid & I’m pretty sure adrenals, feel terrible most of the time. Went gluten & lactose free, changing diet. This is the worst thing to deal with. Also think it’s due to emotional trauma I experienced.
Thank you for sharing, I am sorry to hear this. Our Free Bone Foundations Masterclass could be beneficial to you if you have not attended one before. You can find details at this link --> www.optimalbonehealth.com/bone-foundations-master-class
@@Dr_DougLucasthis link says it's private
I rewatched this video because I just received my Beta Crosslaps CTx result. It had to be done in Australia and it was so expensive! No one in Malaysia has ever ordered this test, resulting in a lot of confusion with the local labs here and even my doctor. They didn't know what it was . Thank you for this easy to understand video I couldn't really find any concise information on how to read the result. My result just shows one range, it does not break down male or females (pre or post menopausal). From your video, I understand that for P1NP - the higher the number, the better. For CTx, the lower the number, the better. Mine is measured in ng/L but your example for CTx is pg/ml but as you said, it doesn't matter, right?
You just have to convert the units. We aim for 200 - 400pg/ml
@@Dr_DougLucas Oh yea, I did by using google's ng/L to picogram/ml and it came out to be the same. 209ng/L = 209pg/ml. I guess this is a decent range for CTx? But I will look forward to my P1NP test results soon to check against that. I've learnt a lot from u, thank u very much.
Thank you for your support and continued views.@@lebooshdiaries
Thank you for the info! I’ve been diagnosed with osteoporosis for two years now. I will ask the GP to order the biomarkers with my next appointment. I have doubt that she will go for it…
Thank you for watching!
I’m 71 love my testosterone pump cream everyday 😎I’ve been exercising everyday since 27 so glad ! I I have osteopenia , I’m going to natural path doctor and order these Blood 🩸 test asap thank you!
Good for you! Wishing you well on your journey.
Como se llama la prueba de sangre por favor. Es que mire el video traducido en español y las letras están muy rápidas. Por favor me pueden decir el nombre del examen de sangre. Gracias
@@odalysribot9145 Hola, el nombre de la prueba es C-Telopeptide CTX y propeptide de Tipo uno procollagen P1NP.
@@Dr_DougLucas gracias le agradezco mucho
On nutrition, people with osteoporosis are supposed to est a lot of protein like beef, pork, chicken, legumes. I suffer from gout. I cannot eat a lot if red meats and legumes due to flare ups. Dairy are also limited as source of calcium . I cannot take lactaid everything I drink a glass of milk. What are my options?
Thank you for sharing this, unfortunately I cannot provide specific recommendations through this platform, I would need to know a little bit more about you as well. Checkout our health span nation if you have not yet, you get exclusive access to me and a community of people pursuing health and longevity. You can find more information here --> www.drdouglucas.com/healthspan
Great vid and certainly food for thought.
I was diagnosed with Osteoporosis in 2010. This was after I had sustained crush fractures to a number of vertebrae. I had dropped my motorcycle at very slow speed whilst parking it and stupidly tried to pick it up from the floor quickly to save my embarrassment. The bike weighed 420lbs so not really a sensible idea. Hence i heard a popping in my back and lots of pain.
I ended up having a Dexa scan and then was given calcium and vit D and alendronic acid. I couldn’t cope with this bisphosphonate once a week due to the side effects . I was then put on Ibandronic acid once a month and this was better. One thing I noted was that after taking this i had joint and muscle pain.
I feel that I have been just treated for osteoporosis with Bisphosphonates without given alternatives. I am told that my bone density is that of an 80 year old. However what hasn’t been taken into account is that I am 65 year old male 5’5” height with a slight frame. They quote T scores at me when really Z scores are more appropriate but even those do not consider size. Also at the time of diagnosis i was under a lot of stress and also consuming too much alcohol about 30 units a week so not really heavy but regular. Now my lifestyle is much better very little alcohol and stress very low. Therefore listening to this vid really backed up that it isn’t about the Dexa scan, there is so much more to it. I have been in engineering all my working life so operator and machine differences from one to another is familiar to me.
I wonder if when i was diagnosed a P1Np test was done and if so how that compares with today. I will ask at my next review.
As an aside I have just taken out travel insurance and when it came to declaring osteoporosis the usual questions about medication were asked but additional i was asked if i had ever refused osteoporosis medication. I thought it strange as for the other conditions such as high blood pressure they never asked this.
Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and experience
Thank you so much for sharing all of this. I am glad to hear that this video has been helpful. It sounds like you could benefit from the next free Bone Foundations Masterclass we have coming up if you have not attended one before. You can find more information here -->www.optimalhumanhealth.com/build-bone
Hi Doctor I’m your great fan I take notes from your videos Thank you so very much You asked for a topic to be discussed in your video .I would like to know about teeth in osteoporosis Because we are supposed to inform our dentist if we have osteoporosis but mostly the dentist does not guide us well how often we should go for cleaning as they are more into our insurance benefits My dentist wants me to go to hygienist every 3 months and I want to get guidance from you Please make a video on this topic
Yes, thank you for this suggestion!
65 year old runner, lower back pain after half marathon on the 17th of September. MRI and CT confirmed sacral stress fracture on the 26th. Vitamin D 73 nmol/L - even though the Australian guidelines say this is sufficient, I know this level isn't optimal. DEXA shows L femur neck minus 3.0, R femur neck minus 2.5, lumbar spine good, L forearm great. Have started on 5000 IUs of Vitamin D and 180 micrograms of K2, along with magnesium and zinc. With an improved diet (I've existed for decades on the typical high carb crap that a lot of runners do) and strength training, I'm quietly confident that I'll be okay (without drugs).
Thank you for sharing your story!
I’m delighted to discover your channel. Following a RTA and fracturing my C1,2 T3,4,5 and tibia plateau a Dexa scan showed -3.5 in my spine. This has been such a shock as I know my vit D and calcium levels were good. I have good microbiome (Zoe study) and diet and weight train I was cycling back from a Hiit boxing class when I was hit. The doctor wants me to take the drugs but I’m resisting and doing supplements and getting back to exercise. One question out of many is can inactivity for 4 -5 months (I was in a brace and on crutches) accelerate osteoporosis? I can’t find any data on it. Also I need to find a way in the Uk to measure strength of bone. I was doing significant weight lifting and high impact (burpees F45 Classes etc) 6 months before my Dexa. Surely I would have fractured if -3.5 is true? Help I’m 61 post menopause and didn’t take HRT so perhaps that’s the next step too
All great points! HRT is something to consider. Bone quality can be measured by REMS if you live near one. I know there are some in the UK but I'm not sure where. Keep watching our videos, come to our master class and keep learning.
@susandewhurst6771 - I wish you all the best with your rehab. FWIW, I would never take osteoporosis drugs!
Can you please talk about using an Echolight scan as opposed to a DEXA scan?
Hi Chris,
I'm a big fan of echolight. Take a look at this video.
th-cam.com/video/pZDn3bjnOf4/w-d-xo.html
So what do you do if you absolutely can not take hormone therapy due to breast cancer?
Checkout our next masterclass, we discuss this further. Our healthspan nation is also a great tool for questions like this! Links for both of these are in the video description :)
I was just diagnosed with osteoporosis, I'm 65. My question is, to test for hip and spine strength and quality since a CT can not tell the bone strength how do we measure this?
Hello. Depending on the CT it can measure bone strength but most don’t. The only imaging study that gives a bone quality metric is the REMS. There are 5 of them available in the US so they may not be easy to get to.
Great information, thanks for sharing.
Glad it was helpful!
Very informative
Have osteoporosis. But do not want to take medication my doctor wants to prescribe
Always felt if osteoclasts function is to break down felt it was not good to stop that
So will try the blood markers if possible
Thank You so much 😊😊
Right! They are important. They just need to be balanced with osteoblast function.
This video was very much informative,I am going to have my first DEXA bone density exam at the end ogf january 2024,I am a 64 year old female with no suspect to osteoporosis burt still my endocrinologist say it would be good to have done at least one,since I am on menopause for 14 years already...I will have my DEXA body mass exam in 2 weeks,want to know in what shape is my muscle mass and wheteher I have some visceral fat (I have no body fat at all,neither a little I'd like to have to look younger :-( ) but never heard of these 2 biomarkers you teel in this video,will ask my physician to dug deeper in it :-) Thanks a lot.
Thank you for sharing this, glad it was helpful!
My name is Paula and I am 52 and lived with undiagnosed celiac until I was 33 years old. Ten years ago, they had me do a baseline bone density scan which diagnosed Osteopenia. Because our family has served in Uganda, Africa for the past 18 years, I have not been able to get or afford all of the screenings or tests. A few months ago, I felt some discomfort in my leg bones when running to take the laundry off of the line, and decided to get tested again. I got a CT BMD scan in Kenya, and it showed I still have osteopenia (L3-92.3, L1-99.8, Lumbo-sacral spine - 105.9). I am wondering if my bones are at risk of fracturing with these numbers or can my body handle proper impact. I am also perimenopausal so I am trying to do all I can now to build my bone health. I already eat very healthy. Also, does hiking help build bone. I am gaining so much knowledge from your videos! Thank you for investing in others.
Thank you so much for sharing this, I am glad you found my channel. I greatly appreciate your support!
@@Dr_DougLucas Hi. Does your response mean you don’t actually read the comments, but simply send a generic response, or that you don’t feel comfortable answering my question due to liability issues? I just wanted an "in most cases answer" to my question. Thanks for your time.
Are calcium hydroxyapatite and plant based (algae) calcium comparable? I have been prescribed Fosamax which I hesitate to take. I do take D3 and K2 and have for years. I make sure I eat plenty of protein . I am working hard to eliminate Omeprazole which I have taken for years for Hyatal Hernia. Trying hard to manage my bone health naturally. I am 79+ years old. I am learning so much from your videos. Thank you so very much.
You’re welcome!
I haven’t seen any evidence suggesting algae calcium is better than other supplements like citrate. However, MCHC does have evidence to support superiority over other forms of calcium.
@@Dr_DougLucasWhere can one get MCHC?
Thank you
Thank you for watching!
How often should people who have osteoporosis or osteopenia get Dexa scans?
The recommendation is yearly or every two depending on the scenario.
DEXA being pushed on me now. But I do my homework. Also the new drug push is Forteo. No thanks to bone cancer risk and daily injections for 18 months - and then an Rx for Fosamax. And why only 18 months? Because beyond that there known and potentially more side effects the pharmaceutical co. would not like to disclose. Thanks for this information - my ortho. would not accept a challenge to DEXA from a non orthopedist.
Thank you for sharing this!
Did you say spinach should be cooked before adding to a smoothie?
Yes, cooked or not added. I've stopped eating and recommending spinach due to high oxalate content.
Fantastic video, lots of good information
Glad it was helpful!
Hi Dr. Lucas. Can you tell me what these numbers mean? 0.054 g/c 2 at spine. 0.029g/cm2 at total proximal hip. No number for forearm.
Hi! Checkout our health span nation if you have not yet, you get exclusive access to me and a community of people pursuing health and longevity. These are things that we discuss in there and it allows us to go into detail rather than doing short chats through this platform. You can find more information here --> www.drdouglucas.com/healthspan
I appreciate all your information and help on osteoporosis! I recently had a compression fracture at T7 or 8. I am trying to decide where to go from here. I want to start P.T. as soon as I can, but wondering what else would you recommend? My doctor wants to start me on drug infusions. I did tolerate oral bisphosphonates, so am a little reluctant to do the drug thing. Thank you in advance for any help you can give me.
Hi! Thanks for being here, unfortunately I cannot make recommendations on TH-cam. We do have a free Bone Foundations Masterclass and our Health Span Nation is a great tool to jumpstart your journey. You can find the links for both of those in the video description :)
Your expertise is extremely well presented and appreciated. What is your opinion of Low Intensity Vibration in addition to your recommendations on the presentation? I a breast cancer survivor of two years taking Letrozole and Pantoprazole. I have gone from Osteopenia to Osteoporosis since Cancer treatment, and just hadmy first infusion of Reclast. I will be returning to 13:41 using a rowing machine, weight bearing exercise, stretching, free weights, and machines.
Thank you.
Thank you for watching! Check out my video on vibration therapy here: th-cam.com/video/LCEeByt4YiQ/w-d-xo.html
Great info on bio-markers. Do you have advice for hormone positive breast cancer survivors on aromatase inhibitors? Essentially no estrogen, testosterone or progesterone in our systems... Are we stuck with having to use the drugs ? Or can we sufficiently mediate with soy and vitamin k, etc?
Hello,
Hormone positive breast CA does present a challenge. This scenario is challenging to control with natural methods and pharmaceuticals are often needed to prevent bone loss. However, there are several tools available to improve bone metabolism and pulling as many of those levers as possible may keep you off of drugs. I would only attempt that with direct supervision and aggressive non pharmaceutical therapy. Depending on the cancer scenario a compromise can be reached with the oncology team. To learn more about natural methods consider our master class and programs.
@@Dr_DougLucas
Thank you for an informative presentation. What can you tell us about using ultrasound to measure bone health? I stay away from any form of radiation and have found one company, Echolight, which does ultrasound bone scans, but they are not located anywhere near where I live. Do you know of any others?
Echolight REMS is what I recommend for ultrasound. I discuss REMS in this video: th-cam.com/video/LCEeByt4YiQ/w-d-xo.html. It is a fantastic option but unfortunately difficult to find access to one
Does the Carnivore diet have a positive impact on osteoporosis?
Hi! Checkout the video on my channel called "Will Increasing Protein for Bone Health Cause other Health Problems? The Untold Benefits of Meat"
So do we ask for a test for these blood markers? Estrogen therapy has its drawbacks - so how does NOT taking estrogen therapy affect osteoporosis progression.
Hi Linda,
You can ask for them but you may find resistance from a physician uncomfortable with making recommendations from them.
Estrogen has risks just like everything. We have a long discussion with our patients every time we consider it but often the fears from patients are not founded in up to date evidence.
Can bone be improved without it? Yes, there are numerous levers to pull.
Thank you for the education.I think most primary care physicians see the dexa report and prescribe drugs. I never knew there were other markers besides DEXA. I have good insurance so I am going to request the lab tests now prior to starting OsteoStrong. I also am going to take your free MasterClass. I am grateful for this information. Much appreciated.
Thank you for sharing this, I appreciate your support!
Thank you for sharing so much relevant information around osteoporosis. In hearing your comments around CTX values and normal range, I was disheartened to hear you say anything over 1000 is a sign of rapid bone loss. My CTX is 1400. I am on a regimen of HRT, gut health management, diet changes, specific strength exercises, etc. I have been wanting to avoid some recommended drugs Evenity and ReClast . . . after hearing your comments, I am wondering if I need to go ahead and start taking the Evenity. Thoughts?
I would need to look at the big picture. There are numerous variables to consider the biggest for someone on HRT is if the dose is adequate based on biomarkers.
Thank you for the information! What do you think of rems scan - echolight?
Love them! Doing a video on this topic next week.
What do i do when im on aromatase inhibitor (blocks estrogen) due to ER+ breast cancer?
Everything you can! Some things will be off the table.
Heard a talk on NTx bone test?
Yes, NTX is an older version of the test I mention, CTX. NTX is a urine test, CTX is a blood test and therefore more accurate.
Thank you for your valuable video, it's so appreciated.
I appreciate you saying so!
Can I wear a weighted vest if my lower lumbar is -3.7? Thanks, great video!
I have a video on weighted vest actually. Check it out if you have not yet! It's called "Weight Vests for Osteoporosis? Do They Really Build Bone?"
Thank you so much for this video. It was extremely informative. I am in Canada in the province of British Columbia. My doctor did not know what a CTX test was. Our lab will do the test for a fee. My question is, I am 71, with a lumbar spine T score of -4.2 and left total hip minus -2.7. The left femoral neck is -3.8 and the right femoral neck -3.4. My doctors want me to take Fosamax. I am extremely fearful of taking drugs as I have had G.I. problems for many years and also extremely sensitive to any pharmaceuticals .Do you think at some point, when you have numbers like mine ,that you have to go on the drugs to prevent any fragility or compression fractures? I am hoping the CTX test will give more information to base a decision on. my understanding, from your video is that bone quality is equally as important as what the DEXA test show.
Thank you for sharing this, unfortunately I cannot provide specific recommendations through this platform, I would need to know a little bit more about you as well. Checkout our health span nation if you have not yet, you get exclusive access to me and a community of people pursuing health and longevity. You can find more information here --> www.drdouglucas.com/healthspan
I’m due for a dexa scan in November. I was told I have Osteopenia. I started doing exercises strength,resistance, cardio in the last 2 years. Should I ask my PCP to order blood works as you’ve mentioned. ? Your podcasts makes sense, the quality of bones or its strength,not just the density. Where is your masterclass ? Is this online ,WHATS the details? Thanks
Hi there! Take a look at our video descriptions for the link to the masterclass. It’s virtual and free.
Does the product AlgaeCal help with osteoporosis and improve bone health?
Hi Barbie,
Alaecal is a plant based product with good studies showing it's benefit for bones. I don't love ingredients though and point my patients toward other products with MCHC forms of Calcium.
@@Dr_DougLucas Thank you so much for your reply. Please inform on the products you believe to be beneficial. If you would please explain or do a video on this it would be very helpful and appreciated. Thank you.
I have heard to not take calcium and magnesium together. Is this true?
This is a common area of concern. If we are supplementing, it’s not a bad idea to take them apart because of the risk of interaction however, these two minerals do occur together in nature, and I think that when we have a natural product we should look at how the components have evolved over time, and since these two come together, I think they likely can be consumed together without significant risk.
What do you think about Echolight tests
Love the echolite test. Video pending.
Thanks! I’m a little confused about what kind of doctor would be most likely to order these sorts of tests?
JJ,
Our DIY course can walk you through how to get these labs yourself. Most doctors are not comfortable ordering all of the labs I recommend because they are not comfortable discussing the results. These particular labs in the US can be ordered from some companies. It's always changing and we do our best to keep up with that.
I was just diagnosed with osteoporosis and osteopenia on the hip.im 60 years old. I was told by my doctor to see a rheumatologist, I have an appointment next week on November 17th . Do you think I should asked my doctor to do these blood test ?
You should ask but they probably won't. If you haven't seen our master class it would be a good starting point for you. You can also download the free e-book or buy our book on Amazon to help! Links in descriptions.
Cannot see the link to the masterclass
Here is the Masterclass Registration link --> www.optimalbonehealth.com/bone-foundations-master-class
What about ultrasounds bone densomitry¿
Are you referring to REMS? That is an US study. The only one I’m aware for bones. It’s great.
Love your videos very informative. Where are you located. I would love to see if my Medicare or blue choice would cover these tests and do you masterclass
Hi Deb,
We are based out of beautiful Asheville, NC. However all of our services are provided virtually. The Masterclass is free and you should be able to sign up in the description of this and any bone health video.
We generally recommend using our cash pay rates for labs as we know what the cost is when doing so. We are able to order labs for insurance to bill BUT have concerns over uncovered labs being put on the patient to pay at the insurance rates which can be 10x the cash rate. It's a frustrating situation with insurance and labs in the US health care system.
Just comparing notes: Dr Susan Brown says she likes to see P1NP test around 300 and 500 is loosing to much, I heard you say you like to see it around 600 maybe under 400 - thoughts? I'm not sure what I should think if my test comes in around 500-600.
Great question! Checkout our health span nation if you have not yet, you get exclusive access to me and a community of people pursuing health and longevity. These are things that we discuss in there and it allows us to go into detail rather than doing short chats through this platform. You can find more information here --> www.drdouglucas.com/healthspan
What is your recommendation for patients who have hyperparathyroid disease? I have two imaging tests left to do prior to surgery and I had one doctor tell me to take calcium. Another told me I needed to be on a bisphosphonate. Studies I have read refute both recommendations. The endocrine specialists tell me that I shouldn't supplement prior to surgery, and not to use bisphosphonates at all, but to supplement after surgery. I have osteopenia in my hip and osteoporosis in my wrist.
Treat the underlying cause ASAP and then get to building bone.
Would you do a video on Chairi 2?
I'm not familiar with that. Can you tell me more?
Great information.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you!
Thank you for watching!
Such great education here. What type of md should I seek out in my area that would address all of these factors you are discussing? I had my Dexa, tscores from 3.4-3.9., I’m 56 and healthy, moderately active. No cause determined. The PA at bone clinic talked to me for about 10
Mins and gave me a scrip for Tymlos. That’s it. Do I find an endocrinologist? Thank u!
Hello,
There are no true specialists in bone health. Endocrinologists are generally sought out and they do treat it. They do what they are trained to do and usually recommend pharmaceuticals for those that are candidates. If this is what you need and are looking for that's a route to go.
If you want to learn more about a comprehensive and usually drug fee approach consider our master class to learn more or discuss our approaches with our team.