Latest Osteoporosis News: Brand New Technology Reveals Effects Of Vitamin D Deficiency On Bone Microstructure, Big Pharma Wins Yet Again, Nationwide Water Contamination Alert, And More!

Vivian Goldschmidt, MA Lifestyle News

Evidence-Based
8 min Read
osteoporosis news

There is a great deal of osteoporosis news to share this time. For the first time ever new technology allows researchers to see three-dimensional images deep within bone, revealing some until-now unknown effects of Vitamin D deficiency on bones.

Merck continues to flex its strong muscles; a US District Court judge has recently ruled in the drug giant’s favor – again.

And now there are even more reasons not to drink your tap water, as the water safety situation in America is going from bad to worse.

And to keep things lighthearted, today I also share with you an uplifting new personal “discovery”.

So let’s get to the news…

Vitamin D Deficiency Ages Your Bones

“Savers” know that Vitamin D is crucial for bone health, and that the best way to get it is through sun exposure. But a startling new study shows a disturbing effect that a lack of Vitamin D can have on your bones: it prematurely ages them.

Using an innovative type of X-ray that records bone structure on a nano-scale, scientists were able to get a three-dimensional view of features deep inside bone to reveal just what a Vitamin D deficiency can do.

News Excerpt

“Scientists from the University of California Berkeley and University Medical Center Hamburg have now recorded in exquisite detail how lacking this vitamin can impact bone structure.

They recruited 30 subjects — half deficient and half with normal vitamin D levels — and scanned their bones with synchrotron radiation-based microcomputed tomography. …

The bones in vitamin D deficient subjects showed signs of premature aging. Microcracks were larger and more common in these people.

…deep within the bone, mineralization was actually denser by three-fold. Cells responsible for upkeep and remodeling the bone were unable to access these deeper layers in people with vitamin D deficiency, according to the authors.”1

It’s fascinating that the bones of Vitamin D-deficient study participants not only showed signs of aging and microfractures, but were actually denser on the inside. This is very telling, especially if doctors would remove their blinders and pay attention at this brand new study. Here’s why.

If researchers would apply this technology to the bones of those who’ve taken bisphosphonates (such as Boniva, Fosamax, Actonel, and others), they would see similar structural characteristics. This is because bisphosphonates, like Vitamin D deficiency, disrupt normal bone remodeling. So the bone deep inside never gets shed and replaced; it simply gets harder, denser, more brittle and, ironically, more prone to fracture.

But researchers are not likely to head down this path. As I mention in the Osteoporosis Reversal Program, there are two studies that come close to exposing the bone-hardening effects of bisphosphonates. They were done on dogs in 20012 and 20053. Both of these studies found that bisphosphonates suppressed healthy bone remodeling and resulted in thick, brittle bones that were more prone to microfractures.

It’s too bad (but not surprising) that mainstream scientists are reluctant to perform research that might damage the reputation of bisphosphonates.

Big Win for Big Pharma

You may remember Merck’s shameless dodge of justice when a lawsuit was brought by a woman who did not have osteoporosis, but was prescribed Fosamax as a “preventative measure” and subsequently suffered an atypical femur fracture.

Clearly, Big Pharma has a way of eluding lawsuits. A recent court ruling will make it even easier for pharmaceutical companies to dodge liability.

This ruling sets a dangerous legal precedent. As it stands now, the FDA’s approval is considered all that’s needed to warn patients about a drug’s safety. “Savers” know that the FDA’s approval is not a sign of a drug’s safety at all.

Ironically, Merck blamed the FDA… and managed to win the lawsuit!

News Excerpt

“A federal court recently issued a ruling that may allow drug-makers to defend themselves against product liability lawsuits by citing preemption – which is the notion that FDA approval of a drug supersedes state law claims challenging safety, efficacy or labeling. … If a drugmaker can provide “clear evidence” that the FDA would not have approved a unilateral labeling change to include an updated warning, a drugmaker could argue this demonstrated it was impossible to comply with both FDA requirements and a state law finding for a stronger warning.

And Merck won such a ruling. A federal court judge decided that Merck had, in fact, attempted to strengthen the warning about a possible link between its Fosamax treatment for osteoporosis and femur fractures, but the FDA did not approve such an addition to the precautions section of the labeling.”4

As Big Pharma loses more drug patents, sales of name brands will decrease markedly. The FDA will rush to approve new brand name drugs that will line Big Pharma’s pockets. In their haste to get these drugs to market, many safety measures will be side-stepped – yet legally, the FDA’s approval will be considered a sufficient safety warning.

Since no drug is ever 100% safe, you can breathe easy, because there’s an alternative to these medications. The Osteoporosis Reversal Program shows you how to reverse osteoporosis without drugs, and it also shows you how to build your bones through a balanced diet, targeted exercise, and easy lifestyle changes.

Fortunately, there’s no need to rely on the FDA when it comes to drug “safety.”

Water Contamination Alert: Imminent Danger in the USA

I never recommend drinking tap water, since the supplemented fluoride and chemicals harm your bones and your overall health. Now there is yet another reason why you should avoid it. The treatment plants and pipeline structure in America are failing – and fast – giving rise to a grave situation.

News Excerpt

“‘This is serious, and if it's not fixed, we could see a breakout of diseases from unsafe water,’ said Shafiqul Islam, a professor and director of the Water Diplomacy Initiative at Tufts University.”5

Across the country, water pipes are breaking at an alarming rate. And it’s going to cost a lot of money to get to the heart of the problem and fix it.

News Excerpt

“The Environmental Protection Agency released a report in April saying the U.S. water infrastructure would need $384 billion in upgrades from 2011 through 2030. That's up from the $335 billion the EPA projected in 2007 for the same time period.”5

Pure drinking water is essential to life. In The Missing Link, a bonus report included with the Osteoporosis Reversal Program, the hazards of tap water are decoded in detail, and many scientific sources are cited to explain just how unhealthy tap water is, and why. The information in The Missing Link is even more relevant now, in light of this latest news.

As explained in the Osteoporosis Reversal Program and in The Missing Link, distilled water with a few drops of lemon juice is still the purest and best drink for your bones.

Music to Your Ears

I promised you some lighthearted “news” at the end of this post.

So on a brighter note, I’ll share with you a great song by a band called Of Monsters and Men. My sons introduced me to this excellent musical group, whose talented five members hail from Iceland. The band formed in 2010 and has since won many awards for their music.

One of their songs I’ve been listening to lately really surprised me when I found out the title… check it out. I love their folksy and melodic style. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Have a listen to “Your Bones” by Of Monsters and Men below:

Till next time,

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References

1 Bjorn, Busse, et al. “Vitamin D Deficiency Induces Early Signs of Aging in Human Bone, Increasing the Risk of Fracture.” Science Translational Medicine. 10 July 2013; Vol. 5, Issue 193, p. 193re88. Web. https://stm.sciencemag.org/content/5/193/193ra88

2 Mashiba, Mori, Burr et al.. “The effects of suppressed bone remodeling
by bisphosphonates on microdamage accumulation and degree of mineralization
in the cortical bone of dog rib.” Journal of Bone and Mineral
Metabolism. 2005.


3 Mashiba, Turner, Hirano et al.,” Effects of suppressed bone turnover by
bisphosphonates on microdamage accumulation and biomechanical
properties in clinically relevant skeletal sites in beagles.” Bone. 2001.

4 Akpan, Nsikan, PhD. “Dark Aging: Too Little Sun, Vitamin D Deficiency Makes Bones ‘Look’ Older And Osteoporosis-like.” Medical Daily. July 10, 2013. Web. https://www.forbes.com/sites/edsilverman/2013/07/09/what-liability-merck-wins-a-key-ruling-that-bolsters-pharma/

5 Koba, Mark. “Got Water? Keeping It Flowing Could Get Expensive.” CNBC News. 14 June 2013. Web. https://www.cnbc.com/id/100813305 (remember to cite properly)