Tips on Osteopenia Treatment Alternatives

Osteopenia is an early stage of osteoporosis, a disease that results in loss of bone. Any treatment is two-fold: to prevent further loss and to replace lost bone. Bone loss is natural, but excessive loss is often the result of one's lifestyle or family genetics. While one cannot change one's genetics, one can change those habits that promote bone loss.

Lifestyle

• Habits such as smoking, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, drinking a lot of caffeine and not getting enough exercise can all contribute to bone loss. Weight- bearing exercises are especially helpful in battling this disease; those exercises will also help strengthen your bone mass.

Important Nutrients

• Take calcium regularly along with vitamin D. Because calcium is a large molecule, it's difficult to absorb, but vitamin D helps with calcium uptake. Zinc, too, helps with calcium uptake. If, however, your body still has trouble absorbing the necessary calcium, consider liquid calcium supplements or ask your physician about calcium injections. When taking calcium, do not take manganese at the same time as these two nutrients compete for absorption. Additionally, do not take calcium along with eating citrus fruits or tomatoes because they can inhibit calcium uptake. Calcium absorbs best while the body is resting, so consider taking your calcium and vitamin D supplements at bedtime.

Helpful Herbs

• Chinese medicine often prescribes the herb herba epimedii. This herb is believed to modulate cortisol levels in the body. Stress causes the body to produce cortisols that lead to bone loss. Likewise, any cortisol drug has adverse effects on bone mass and so should only be taken according to doctor's instructions. Other studies, primarily from New Zealand, look to lactoferrin as a treatment. Lactoferrin can be found in human milk, bovine milk and colustrum (milk for newborns). Studies indicate it stimulates osteoblasts, thus promoting bone growth. For a concentrated source of lactoferrin, try whey.