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[Kelrob12]

Hi,
Does anyone know the levels needed to protect bones - The Menopause clinic told me 300pmol/l but mentioned to my GP who said she couldn't find any information and I can't either. Anyone told any different levels?
thanks Kelly

[Joaniepat]

That's what I was told at the meno clinic too. At the time I couldn't find anything published either! I doubt many studies have been done, but this figure must have come from somewhere. Hopefully someone here will have more info.

JP x

[CLKD]

Is this calcium levels?

MayB look at the UK osteoporosis support group/charity ?

[CLKD]

Royal Osteoporosis Society 2020

President: HRH The Duchess of Cornwall

Royal Osteoporosis Society is a registered charity no. 1102712 in England and Wales, no. SC039755 in Scotland, and no. 1284 in Isle of Man.

Registered as a company limited by guarantee in England and Wales no. 4995013, and foreign company no. 006188F in Isle of Man.
Registered address:  Manor Farm, Skinner's Hill, Camerton, Bath BA2 0PJ
Formerly the National Osteoporosis Society

[Catcc]

I was told it has to be at least 200 (private Meno specialist).  I wasn't absorbing enough estradiol from my patch so had to increase strength.  It's important to me having recently been diagnosed with osteopenia

[Joaniepat]

Is this calcium levels?

MayB look at the UK osteoporosis support group/charity ?

It's oestrogen levels.
JP x

[CLKD]

Tnx - not keeping up am I 

[Kelrob12]

That's what I was told at the meno clinic too. At the time I couldn't find anything published either! I doubt many studies have been done, but this figure must have come from somewhere. Hopefully someone here will have more info.

JP x

I agree, there must be some literature?! Maybe I will email the clinic but I asked yesterday if I could ask a few questions about my HRT and I have to pay £30 for a email reply so they might not answer 

[Kelrob12]

I was told it has to be at least 200 (private Meno specialist).  I wasn't absorbing enough estradiol from my patch so had to increase strength.  It's important to me having recently been diagnosed with osteopenia

I was just reading about supplements - did they tell you to take any? Ive ordered some calcium carbonate powder in a hope this would be good enough as I don't want to up my estrogen patch. x

[Hurdity]

There is not a lot of info about this I don't think. A while ago I read a paper where the firgure of something like 165 as an absolute minimum was mentioned but as always this would have to be qualified and will involve detailed measures of bone turnover over time etc. It's a complex issue. I have also heard that private gynaes suggest way above that minimum but maybe that's to allow for variation? Sorry I don't have time to look this up.

Hurdity x
PS It's always important to have a good diet with plenty of fresh foods and including calcium but beyond that you shouldn't need to take more of any vitamin or mineral than you need unless you have an gut absorption problem. Focus on diet first I would say,

[CLKD]

Why not up the patch?  HRT is known to protect bone density and heart muscle.  Have U read the info on the Osteoporosis web-site?

[Catcc]

Hi Kelly Louise

It was my GP who sent me for a DEXA scan and I had a shock when I was told I had osteopenia (was not expecting that!).  She didn't really discuss it with me (it was a phone consultation and she is always in a hurry).  She just prescribed me Adcal-Vit D supplements. 

Obviously I want to strengthen and protect my bones now, but I have read so much online about calcium supplements possibly causing heart problems and kidney stones that I do feel uneasy taking them.  Having spoken to another GP in my practice and my menopause specialist, I am trying to increase my calcium intake through a combination of food and the supplements (I believe that, because I have osteopenia, I need 1200mg a day, plus vitamin D). 

I am really happy that I recently started HRT (I now wish I'd started it sooner - hindsight is a wonderful thing  ). 

The Royal Osteoporosis Society have lots of fact sheets and info on their website.  They don't seem to favour supplements, except in specific circumstances, which is what really concerns me. 

When you look more into supplements it gets complicated.  I've read that you need magnesium and vitamin K too in order to absorb.  I am still trying to work my way through this minefield to try and work out what's best.  I have just read that prunes are full of vitamin K so I've added them to my diet too.

[Kelrob12]

Why not up the patch?  HRT is known to protect bone density and heart muscle.  Have U read the info on the Osteoporosis web-site?

My Gp won't as she says 100mg is high enough and it to worried about cancer and I have a fibroid (never had one before Hit and estrogen cause it to grow whilst on 50mg so she worried it will grow more). Plus Im sure my internal scar tissue pain increased when I upped my estrogen - I think I read about nerve and estrogen so don't want to just rush upping just yet unless Im sure I will feel better on it. I'm not against it just want to make sure x

[Kelrob12]

Hi Kelly Louise

It was my GP who sent me for a DEXA scan and I had a shock when I was told I had osteopenia (was not expecting that!).  She didn't really discuss it with me (it was a phone consultation and she is always in a hurry).  She just prescribed me Adcal-Vit D supplements. 

Obviously I want to strengthen and protect my bones now, but I have read so much online about calcium supplements possibly causing heart problems and kidney stones that I do feel uneasy taking them.  Having spoken to another GP in my practice and my menopause specialist, I am trying to increase my calcium intake through a combination of food and the supplements (I believe that, because I have osteopenia, I need 1200mg a day, plus vitamin D). 



I am really happy that I recently started HRT (I now wish I'd started it sooner - hindsight is a wonderful thing  ). 

The Royal Osteopathic Society have lots of fact sheets and info on their website.  They don't seem to like supplements, except in specific circumstances, which is what really concerns me. 

When you look more into supplements it gets complicated.  I've read that you need magnesium and vitamin K too in order to absorb.  I am still trying to work my way through this minefield to try and work out what's best.  I have just read that prunes are full of vitamin K so I've added them to my diet too.

Oh no wish id not ordered the calcium carbonate now 😂😂
I will look into this too.
I already take vat d and mg but not vitamin k. x

[Catcc]

You maybe need some proper advice on what to take.

A neighbour of mine recommended Viridian Calcium/magnesium and zinc powder (she has osteoporosis but is not on HRT).  I like Viridian supplements and emailed them for advice. They have excellent customer service.   

They recommended, for my situation, their calcium/magnesium/boron powder (and vit D) and mentioned vitamin K, but she did say not to take a vitamin K supplement without checking with my meno specialist first as there could be an interaction with my HRT.  She told me the amount of vitamin K in my multi-vitamin is fine (it's just higher doses that might be an issue). 

I've decided just to eat more prunes  .  I know that sounds crazy but apparently they are good for bones and contain vitamin k. 

At the moment I'm consciously working out how much calcium I eat a day (both from the supplements and my diet - I don't want too much or too little), I'm making sure I take vit D, and I also take magnesium anyway as it's been helpful for a lot of things.

If you're going to take supplements I think I would try and get some proper advice from someone who knows what they're talking about. I'm not an expert.  In fact I'm in the early stages of trying to work this all out for myself.