Part 2: The Myths and Realities About Osteoporosis  

Exploring the Hormone Heresy: An Interview with Women's Health Advocate Sherrill Sellman

by Mary J. Shomon

Mary Shomon: The risk of osteoporosis is higher for women who suffered periods of hyperthyroidism. While the research is contradictory as to whether hypothyroid women on thyroid hormone replacement are at greater risk for osteoporosis, it is certainly something that women with thyroid disease need to be more aware of, as do most women in general, of course, given epidemic levels of osteoporosis in the United States. Can you tell us about when women should be tested for osteoporosis, and how, and what types of preventative measures women can take, plus what treatments you feel women should consider?

Sherrill Sellman: Osteoporosis is, indeed. a major health concern for western women. However, it should be noted with interest that women in other cultures around the world either do not suffer from osteoporosis or have lower bone density but with no increased risk of fracture. Such cross-cultural studies are giving us an important clue to the osteoporosis epidemic we're experiencing in the West. Is osteoporosis, perhaps, a degenerative disease caused primarily by our western life style and diet?

Osteoporosis was intentionally exploited by the drug companies in the mid-1970's as compelling reason for women to take HRT. (In 1976 two studies reported that estrogen replacement therapy caused an 800% increase in endometrial cancer in the previous 10 years). To convince women to return to using these steroid hormone treatments an intentional advertising campaign was launched to scare women back to hormones. Up until that time, osteoporosis was a relatively unknown condition by the public. It took a while but the campaign ultimately was successful. Osteoporosis was perceived as primarily a woman's disease. Menopause and estrogen deficiency were seen as the culprits and, Hormone Replacement Therapy was deemed the primary solution. Madison Avenue does it again!! This important but forgotten part of history is explained in more depth in my book and in an indepth article in my Hormone Heresy Supplement.

From my years of research, I have uncovered many myths about osteoporosis:

• Myth #1 Osteoporosis is caused by menopause

• Myth #2 Osteoporosis is caused by an estrogen deficiency

• Myth #3 Osteoporosis is caused by a calcium deficiency

It used to be thought that all women have a considerable decrease in bone at menopause from lower estrogen levels - thus estrogen deficiency was said to be the cause of osteoporosis. Continuing research has disproved this idea. Studies following individual women's bone density over time have shown that although some women lose a lot of bone with menopause, other lose comparatively little, Also, for some women, bone loss starts before menopause. One study using urine tests to measure calcium loss found that some women are "fast losers" and others are naturally "normal losers."

Dr. Jerilynn Prior, researcher and professor of endocrinology at the University of British Columbia has conducted research that seriously challenges estrogen's key role in preventing bone loss. Her research confirmed that estrogen's role in combating osteoporosis is only a minor one. In her study of female athletes, she found that osteoporosis occurs to the degree that the athlete's became progesterone deficient, even though their estrogen levels remained normal.

Dr. Prior continued her research with non-athletic women. They showed the same results. While both these groups of women were menstruating, they had anovulatory cycles (not ovulating) and were, therefore, deficient in progesterone. As a result of her extensive research, she confirmed that it is not estrogen but progesterone which is the key bone building hormone. Such studies seriously challenge the estrogen deficiency- osteoporosis link.

When it comes to good bone health, there are many different nutritional requirements in addition to calcium which include magnesium, protein, essential fatty acids, boron, silica, copper, zinc, manganese, strontium, phosphorus, folic acid, Vitamin A, B6, B12, C, D, and K.

Good bone health comes down to eating a nutrient rich diet (it has now proven that organic foods have a higher nutritional content), including regular weight-bearing exercise, reducing the toxic and heavy metal load, reducing stress ( adrenal exhaustion leads to bone loss), having strong digestion in order to properly digest and assimilate nutrients and hormonal balance.

The real "Bone Thieves" are the following:

• Acid/alkaline imbalance

• Alcohol

• Aluminium-Containing Antacids

• Anorexia

• Antibiotics

• Caffeine

• Diuretics

• Endocrine imbalance - parathyroid, thyroid, adrenal, ovaries, kidneys

• Excessive animal protein /dairy products

• High hydrogenated fat consumption

• High salt intake

• History of Dieting

• Hysterectomy/removal of ovaries

• Indoor existence/lack of Vitamin D

• Oral Contraceptive Pill and Depo-Provera

• Pharmaceutical drugs & medications - i.e. anti-convulsants, chemo-therapeutic agents, psychotropic drugs i.e. Valium and Librium

• Poor digestion

• Sedentary life style

• Stress/adrenal exhaustion

• Sugar

• Tobacco

• Toxic metals - lead, mercury, cadmium, aluminum and tin

Since junk foods, stress and environmental toxicity have become a way of life in this country, it's no wonder that osteoporosis is a such huge problem. We're even seeing it in teenagers who drink lots of sodas. The sugar, caffeine and high phosphorus content all cause loss of vital bone-building nutrients (not to mention PMS, acne, erratic moods, lack of concentration and fatigue).

Given what is now known about early bone loss, I would recommend getting a bone density test done in one's forties. However, with such poor dietary habits and high stress levels, it may be advisable to start earlier in life, perhaps starting in one's twenties to use as a baseline throughout life. Ultrasound tests and urinary secretion tests are available. DEXA ( dual X-ray absorbtiometry) is the most accurate but uses radiation. I personally try to minimize radiation exposure of any kind to its cumulative carcinogenic effects. You can also get inexpensive pH strips from a pharmacy which you can test your acid/alkaline balance on a daily basis. A continual acid condition indicates mineral and nutrient depletion. It's an inexpensive way to monitor oneself daily and adjust the pH with diet.

The drug companies boast one other medication that promises to halt bone loss. This popular drug, Fosamax, is the only non-hormonal drug approved by the FDA to treat osteoporosis. Studies of this drug were cleverly stopped after four to six years. This is just the point at which the fracture rate for women taking similar drugs began to rise.

So, although Fosamax will superficially appear to increase bone density, in reality it decreases bone strength leading to a greater risk of fracture. Fosamax is a metabolic poison and will actually kill osteoclasts cells which are required to maintain dynamic bone equilibrium.

In addition, Fosamax can cause severe and permanent damage to the esophagus and stomach. It is also hard on the kidneys, can cause diarrhea, flatulence, rashes, headaches and muscular pain. Rats given high doses developed thyroid and adrenal tumors. Fosamax also causes deficiencies of calcium, magnesium and Vitamin D - all essential bone building the process.

To counter the well-deserved bad press about steroid hormones for the treatment of osteoporosis. a new class of drug have been developed. They are call Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERM) It is touted by the drug companies that they will protect bone without the risk of breast cancer. The most well know of these drugs is called Evista (raloxifene). However, it's effect on bone is not very strong. Animal studies have shown that it increased the incidence of ovarian cancer.

Since bone is made of dynamic tissue, it is possible not only to maintain healthy bones but also to increase bone density. However, good bone health requires a commitment to good eating and life style habits. Some products that support bone health include natural progesterone, maca (a South American medicinal plant), hydroxyapetitie (a form of calcium) with boron, magnesium, adequate essential fatty acids, digestive enzymes, a good multi-vitamin/mineral formula and Chinese herbs.