By the way, doctor: Can strontium help treat osteoporosis?
But naturally occurring strontium is not radioactive. In the 1950s, it was used to treat osteoporosis, but it fell out of favor because of adverse effects on bone mineralization. The dose may have been too high, or the patients may have had dietary deficiencies. Interest in the use of strontium has recently revived, this time in a new form called strontium ranelate. In animal models, strontium ranelate both slows bone breakdown (resorption) and increases new bone formation. In humans, it increases bone mineral density, improves bone microarchitecture (an indicator of bone strength), and decreases the risk of fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.
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