Progesterone & Osteoporosis
”The National Osteoporosis Society estimate that 1 in 3 women
and 1 in 12 men in the UK will develop osteoporosis by the time
they are over 50. It is likely that in addition to those
figures, a further 40% of women probably have bones not as
strong as they should be for their age. This puts them at
increased risk of developing osteoporosis later in life.”*
Osteoporosis is a disorder in which progressive bone mass
loss and demineralization increase ones risk of fracture. This
condition allows us to observe how prescription progestins and
oestrogens compare to natural progesterone.
The standard medical treatment for osteoporosis is to use
oestrogen, (commonly from pregnant mare's urine), in spite of
the fact that the most authoritative medical text books do not
support that form of treatment, as the following example
illustrates:
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"Oestrogens decrease bone resorption" but
"associated with the decrease in bone resorption is a
decrease in bone formation."
Scientific American's Updated Medicine Text, 1991 |
Bone tissue should be broken down and rebuilt continuously,
just like all of the cells in our body. This process takes place
when osteoclast cells dissolve old bone tissue, while osteoblast
cells stimulate new bone growth. Because oestrogen has a
rate-limiting effect on osteoclasts, it only delays the
breakdown of old bone tissue. Natural progesterone, on the other
hand, stimulates osteoblast cells which results in new bone
tissue growth.
It is important to note that strong, health bones depend on:
- Sufficient dietary calcium with necessary co-factors
- Vitamins D and K (made by friendly bacteria in the gut)
- Exercise
- Stress management
- Avoiding fluoride
- Optimal progesterone levels
Some Important Osteoporosis Research
The importance of progesterone was verified by a three year
study of 63 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Women using
progesterone cream experienced an average 7-8% bone mineral
density increase the first year, 4-5% the second year and 3-4%
the third year. Untreated women in this age category typically
lose 1.5% bone mineral density per year.
These results have not been found with any other form of
hormone replacement therapy or dietary supplementation,
including Fosamax or Evista which have multiple, published,
undesirable side-effects.
*Dr Shirley Bond and Anna Rushton.
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