Save Our Bones Bulletin: Hip Fracture Trends, New Vitamin D Research, FDA To Evaluate Homeopathic Remedies

Vivian Goldschmidt, MA News

Evidence-Based
6 min Read
save our bones bulletin

This Save Our Bones Bulletin includes alarming information, brand new research, and the latest news from the FDA, all of it having a direct impact on bone health and osteoporosis treatment.

A just-published report reveals hip fracture rates over the past several years. We’ll have a look at the figures, what they suggest, and what it means to you.

Then we’ll review some exciting new research on Vitamin D. Plus we'll check in on the FDA and its ever-increasing scrutiny on natural remedies.

Hip Fracture Rates On The Rise

A report published at the end of last year shows that the incidence rate of hip fractures in women aged 65 years or older increased more than projected in the years 2013, 2014 and 2015. The study authors, representing nine prestigious medical organizations and universities across the country, used Medicare Part A and Part B claims for women aged 65 and older from the years 2002 to 2015 to calculate age-adjusted hip fracture rates.

Relevant Excerpt:

“We found that hip fracture rates declined each year from 2002 to 2012 and then plateaued at levels higher than projected for years 2013, 2014, and 2015.

The plateau in age-adjusted hip fracture incidence rate resulted in more than 11,000 additional estimated hip fractures over the time periods 2013, 2014, and 2015. We recommend further study to assess all factors contributing to this remarkable change in hip fracture rate and to develop strategies to reduce the osteoporosis treatment gap.”1

This study shows an alarming trend, but due to the method of collecting the data, we don’t know anything else about the women who suffered these fractures, or what sort of medical interventions they did or did not receive.

This underscores the importance of spreading awareness of the dangers of bone loss and fighting back against a culture that encourages and profits off of bone-destructive behaviors and habits. You can be certain that Big Pharma will seize upon this news to push doctors to prescribe osteoporosis drugs to more patients when instead, they should be helping to educate their patients and support them in making healthier, natural choices that are more effective than dangerous prescription drugs.

New Research Reveals Vitamin D Receptor Function

Scientists at the Florida campus of the Scripps Research Institute have pioneered the use of hydrogen-deuterium exchange (HDX) mass spectrometry to map ligand and protein to protein interactions. By applying this technology to the vitamin D receptor complex, they are expanding our understanding of how calcium levels are regulated to maintain healthy bones.

Relevant Excerpt:

“Using a technology known as HDX, which the Griffin lab has propelled into mainstream protein analysis, the scientists delivered the first dynamic snapshots of a prime target for osteoporosis treatments: a receptor that regulates calcium levels to maintain healthy bones.

The use of current drugs that target this receptor—called vitamin D receptor agonists—is limited because use can result in hypercalcemia, a condition that can weaken bones and even cause kidney stones, due to too much calcium in the bloodstream.

To address this problem, scientists need a clearer picture of the structure of the vitamin D receptor. The vitamin D receptor complex regulates bone mineralization by controlling a gene known as BGLAP that is the target of 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25D3), the active hormonal version of vitamin D. Unfortunately, increased levels of 1,25D3 also activate a calcium-regulating gene called TRPV6, which leads to hypercalcemia.”2

Unfortunately, this exciting new information about how our bodies build our bones will likely be used to create new pharmaceutical products. As the problems with hypercalcemia show, chemically altering our receptors and regulatory genes can lead to serious side-effects.

FDA Turns An Eye To Homeopathic Remedies

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the American federal regulatory body in charge of overseeing the safety and efficacy of food and health products sold in the United States. In 1988 the FDA decided that plant-derived homeopathic remedies could be sold as homeopathic drugs without their approval. It seems that this position is soon to change.

Relevant Excerpt:

“Alternative remedies like homeopathic treatments have become popular in recent years and now make up a $3 billion industry. But the Food and Drug Administration will begin scrutinizing products that could be dangerous to vulnerable populations.

Many homeopathic remedies are derived from plants and claim to treat everything from the common cold to serious diseases. But the FDA fears that these products can “bring little to no benefit in combating serious ailments, or worse — may cause significant and even irreparable harm because the products are poorly manufactured, or contain active ingredients that aren’t adequately tested or disclosed to patients,” according to FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb.”3

Recent problems with products that were meant for infants have resulted in the agency issuing warnings. That red flag has lead to closer scrutiny of products aimed at young children, cancer-patients, and others suffering from serious diseases.

It certainly makes sense for the manufacturers of homeopathic remedies to be held accountable for the impact of their products and the accuracy of their product quality and labeling. But unfortunately, the FDA has a more than questionable history of successful drug assessment.

That is why at the Save Institute we want Savers to understand the treatment options, the intended results, and any potential risks. It’s why Savers pursue a holistic, natural path to increasing bone density and preventing fracture and shun the ineffective and harmful osteoporosis drugs sold by Big Pharma.

Till next time,

vivian sig

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References:

1 Michael Lewiecki E, Wright NC, Curtis JR, Siris E, Gagel RF, Saag KG, Singer AJ, Steven PM, Adler RA. “Hip fracture trends in the United States, 2002 to 2015.” Osteoporos Int. 2017 Dec 27. Web: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29282482
2 The Scripps Research Institute. “Scientists unveil ‘roadmap' to aid osteoporosis treatment development.” Press Release. October 13, 2017, Web: https://phys.org/news/2017-10-scientists-unveil-roadmap-aid-osteoporosis.html#jCp
3 Lauren Spagnoletti. “FDA Announces Plans to Target Risky Homeopathic Remedies” PJ Media. Dec 20, 2017. Web: https://pjmedia.com/lifestyle/fda-announces-plans-target-risky-homeopathic-remedies/