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Osteoporosis management
Some time ago, you wrote about a supplement, which provided ipriflavone to help build bone density. A few weeks ago, you recommended a calcium supplement called Biocalth to do the same job. I am now confused. Which is better for managing my osteoporosis?
Unfortunately, it is no longer a question of which supplement is better but more a case of which can you still buy over the counter to support bone health because ipriflavone, which is one of the substances the body needs to make and keep strong bones, has now been banned from sale in the UK.
Made from soya, this substance, (which had been shown to reduce bone loss and promote new bone growth in clinical trials), has been linked to an increased risk of abnormally low lymphocyte counts in about 10% of patients taking it for more than six months, and it has now been deemed a medicine and not a natural substance by the licensing authorities.
This means of the two, you will have to use Biocalth which is a patented form of pre-bonded calcium said to be more bioavailable than other forms, and now available from Victoria Health (0800 413596).
What you can also do is eat more of those foods that are rich in a phytochemical called daidzen, which is present in soya and used to make ipriflavone. Daidzen is also a key agent in the herb red clover, which also provides bone-building calcium, and which is still widely available in supplement form. Solgar’s Red Clover Leaf Extract (from Revital; 0800 252875) provides a therapeutic dose of 250mg per capsule. It costs £16.95 for 60 veggie capsules. Take as directed on the bottle.