New Natural Cure for Osteoporosis in the Works

. . . curcumin may be the answer Although preventing osteoporosis is always preferable to reversing it (see my article, “Boning Up on Osteoporosis”), a new treatment using a compound found in curcumin is being investigated that may be vastly superior to the current ineffective bisphosphonate drugs that our physicians are prescribing. The problem with bisphosphonates is that while they suppress the breakdown of bone, they also suppress bone building. Healthy bone is continually broken down and rebuilt in regular 3-6 month cycles, a process called bone remodeling. Bisphosphonates interfere with this process, resulting in keeping old bone way past its prime. Holding on to old bone too long can lead to the kind of spontaneous fractures that have been reported in long-term bisphosphonate users. The curcumin compound under investigation, however, enhances bone building. While it also suppresses bone breakdown somewhat, it’s not enough to interfere with normal bone remodeling. While it’s still too early to make any specific recommendations, taking supplementary curcumin would be a very worthwhile addition to your osteoporosis-preventing or reversing regimen. As Tilg and others have shown, inflammation is an important factor in the development of osteoporosis, and curcumin is a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Two 250-mg capsules daily are recommended for most people. As always, it’s important to take a curcumin product that’s free of contaminants (some have been found to be contaminated with lead), biologically active and well-absorbed (most curcumin products are poorly absorbed). Our carefully-researched Curcumin Formula has been proven in clinical studies by the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas to be safe, pure, biologically effective and well-absorbed.

Yamaguchi M. Novel curcumin analogue UBS109 potently stimulates osteoblastogenesis and suppresses osteoclastogenesis: Involvement in Smad activation and NF-κB inhibition. Integrative Biology. August 2012; 4(8):905-913.

Tilg H. Gut, inflammation and osteoporosis:  Basic and clinical concepts. Gut. May 2008; 57(5):684-694.