Got strontium? If you do, it will help keep your bones strong. An HSI member named Hilda writes: "I have read that strontium is good to build strong bones. It was a short article and did not give much information. Do you have more information or people that have used it? How much to take? etc." I'll let HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., field this one… Dr. Spreen: "When people think strontium, they usually think of strontium-90, the radioactive component of fallout that can cause cancer due to its ability to sequester itself in the bones of both adults and kids. "The mineral is readily absorbed by bone, but stable (non-radioactive) strontium is not only nontoxic, it's also well-studied to increase bone mineral density (BMD). In fact, a study out of Canada in 1981 showed increase BMD using strontium even in cases of breast and prostate cancer that had metastasized to bone and were causing vertebra to weaken and crumble. ('Effects of oral supplementation with stable strontium. Can Med Assoc J, 125:703-712.) "Ward Dean, M.D., reports that studies of the use of strontium show it to be safe in doses up to 1.7 grams/day, though effective supplemental use of the mineral nutrient tends to be optimized at around 680 milligrams, with lower doses also being effective for osteoporosis (and even cavities). In fact, strontium gluconate has been used in doses of 274 mg/day and found to be as effective as the less well absorbed strontium carbonate in doses of 600-700 mg. "For prevention, even lower doses could be effective, whether in the form of strontium ranelate, strontium carbonate, strontium lactate, or strontium gluconate…it's the strontium that seems to tell the tale. However, it should be noted that its absorption is inhibited when combined with calcium, and the mineral is best absorbed when taken on an empty stomach (one of the few nutrients other than amino acids in which that tends to be true)." | 
