This One Is Mainly For The Ladies (mostly)???  

Many people are surprised that when they are diagnosed  with osteoporosis (bone thinning and breakdown), it is only done by a bone mass density scan (BMD) and that their progress is only measured by this scan (usually in 2 to 3 years time). Did you know there are blood tests that you can use to identify the causes AND, to treat AND assess progress?

Doctors don’t test for this due to a lack of education in this area.

I regularly test for the following:

PTH (Parathyroid Hormone), Hormone that CAUSES bone breakdown, made by the Parathyroid gland

Beta- Crosslaps, (bone breakdown marker)

PINP (bone formation marker)

Homocysteine ( raised levels are associated with bone breakdown)

CRP/ESR (body inflammation markers)

Cortisol, DHEA ( stress, inflammation hormones)

Unfortunately most people are not tested for these, or given any guidance on how to monitor their progress.

I will focus on PTH in particular. I find it disturbing as I often find elevated (often substantially elevated) PTH. This is a cause. One reason it is not tested, is doctors are advised to only test if you have an elevated blood Calcium. But many people have a blood calcium reading within range, despite having an elevated PTH. (80% of people with elevated PTH, have normal blood calcium levels!!). Attention, elevated PTH is 4 more times common in WOMEN than MEN ! ! !

And it has been shown that an elevated PTH , with a normal blood calcium (called normocalcaemic Hyperparathyroidism), is a cause of NOT only osteoporosis, but also:

Kidney disease

Elevated blood pressure and arrythmias

Gut disturbances (constipation)

Irritability, anxiety

The job of PTH is to regulate calcium levels. But it is most strongly regulated by Vitamin D. Not just the level of Vitamin D, but how well it is functioning. Many factors beyond the blood level of Vitamin D, affect how well VITAMIN D functions. Inflammation and persistent viral infections (think glandular fever virus) are two examples of factors that REDUCE Vit D function and effectiveness.

It is basic physiology that VITAMIN D function, not just blood levels, dictates PTH levels.

Finding an elevated PTH, gives us a CAUSE of osteoporosis, but also a way to treat it. Giving Vitamin D at doses to reduce PTH, is an effective way to address this. I have used this process on dozens of clients, and getting outstanding results in lowering PTH and improving bone health

Some people require Vit D at standard levels 70 to 80, whilst other people need levels much higher to lower PTH. By dosing VITAMIN D according to our level of PTH, and retesting within 1 to 4 weeks, we can quickly address your raised PTH and return to a normal level, a level that  is NOT breaking down your bone. Most clients can be normalised by utiliising Vitamin D (especially using a more potent form, only available to Naturopaths called Calcifediol).

Both Magnesium and Calcium are also involved, but Vitamin D is the start point and most important factor to address

An example of this is a 64 year old client (Jane), with  normal blood calcium levels, but very high PTH ( between 12 and 16 over a 12 month period), with deteriorating osteoporosis, despite being on the most commonly prescribed medication (Actonel).

The advice from the endocrinologist was that she would likely need to have surgery to remove the parathyroid gland.

But her PTH dropped from 16.3 to 7.8 in just 7 WEEKS!!!! This is an amazing turnaround, and definitely not needing surgery now. This is a fabulous example of looking more deeply in  to the CAUSES of your medical condition and TREATING these.

If you think this sounds like you and would like to book an appointment or you are just curious at what a natural health professional can do for you then please call (08) 8271-1827.

Botanica Medica is located at 97-99 Glen Osmond Road, Eastwood

References

1. Vitamin D Resistance as a Possible Cause of Autoimmune Diseases: A Hypothesis Confirmed by a Therapeutic High-Dose Vitamin D Protocol HYPOTHESIS AND THEORY article. Front. Immunol., 07 April 2021 , Sec. Autoimmune and Autoinflammatory Disorders

Volume 12 – 2021 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.655739 , Lemke K, Klement R et al

2. Current Issues in the Presentation of Asymptomatic Primary Hyperparathyroidism: Proceedings of the Fourth International Workshop Shonni J. Silverberg, Bart L. Clarke, Munro Peacock, Francisco Bandeira, Stephanie Boutroy, Natalie E. Cusano, David Dempster, E. Michael Lewiecki, Jian-Min Liu, Salvatore Minisola, Lars Rejnmark, Barbara C. Silva, Marcella D. Walker, and John P. Bilezikian