Most women are concerned about maintaining strong, healthy bones as they age. Considering that according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, half of all women over the age of 50 are likely to experience a fracture related to osteoporosis, this concern is well-placed. However, while women are willing to take steps to protect their bones, they are often going about it the wrong way.

Thousands of women pop a calcium supplement every day and think they’re protected from osteoporosis. Unfortunately, that’s just not true – and these women may actually be harming their health in the process. It’s true that calcium is important for strong bones. But it won’t work in isolation. It needs several partners so that your body can use it effectively. I’ll tell you more about some of those in the pages that follow. But without those partners, calcium builds up in the walls of our blood vessels and our soft tissues, where it can cause calcification and contribute to cardiovascular disease.

In fact, the Women’s Health Initiative found that when women took daily supplements of 1,000 mg of calcium, their risk of cardiovascular events increased 15-22%. Another study of over 10,000 Finnish women had similar results, identifying a 24% increase in coronary heart disease risk in those who supplemented with calcium.

Results from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition were even more startling. This study of 23,980 participants found that those who took calcium supplements regularly had an 86% higher risk of having a heart attack than those who didn’t. And this risk was the highest in the participants who took only a calcium supplement. Supplementing with calcium, but not any of its partners, doubled the participants’ heart-attack risk.

Calcium supplementation is rampant in the US – 70% of older women use these supplements regularly. But many of us are already getting adequate calcium from our diets, and we aren’t getting enough of calcium’s partners. So any excess calcium we take in has the potential to calcify in our tissues, making them stiff and brittle.

So what do we need instead of more and more calcium? To begin, we need to make sure our bodies have adequate amounts of vitamins D and K. These vitamins help us maintain proper calcium balance, called calcium homeostasis, and absorb it into our bones effectively. The trouble is, as we age, we begin to have more trouble both absorbing calcium through our intestines and synthesizing vitamin D3 through our kidneys. This creates a one-two punch that affects calcium homeostasis. So correcting a vitamin D deficiency can help the body maintain skeletal health by absorbing calcium properly into the bones rather than letting it calcify in the tissues.

And that’s not all vitamin D3 can do. A review study recently published in the journal BMJ Open indicates that exercise and vitamin D3 supplementation can work together synergistically to improve musculoskeletal health and function in people 65 or older. The researchers identified seven studies with a total of 792 participants investigating the connections among vitamin D3 supplementation, exercise, and musculoskeletal health. They found that supplementing exercise with vitamin D3 can lead to modest gains in muscle strength and bone mineral density, both of which are important for helping you avoid falls that result in fractures. While the findings weren’t earth-shattering, I think there are plenty of independent benefits to both exercise and D3 supplementation, so I see these findings as an added bonus to making choices that you already know are good for you.

Another partner that calcium needs is vitamin K, particularly vitamin K2. You might think of vitamin K as the blood-clotting vitamin, but it does far more than that. In particular, it plays an important role in bone health by helping to increase bone mineral density and reducing fracture rates in people with osteoporosis. Vitamin D3 seems to have a synergistic relationship with vitamin K as well, giving you yet another reason to ensure your D3 levels are where they should be.

Vitamin K is an important complement to calcium because it helps fight not only osteoporosis but also calcification and stiffening in the arteries. So if you do end up with too much calcium, vitamin K can help restore elasticity in your arteries, reducing your risk of cardiovascular disease. Even better, vitamin K2 can help keep calcium from building up in the walls of your blood vessels in the first place. In fact, a population-based study in Rotterdam of nearly 5,000 people over the age of 55 found that consuming at least 32 mcg of vitamin K2 a day cut chances of death from cardiovascular issues in half and reduced all-cause mortality by 25%. Its ability to keep calcium out of your soft tissues seems to play a big part in those stats.

So where does this calcium go if not to your arterial walls? It finally goes where you want it: to your bones. Vitamin K2 activates osteocalcin, which collects calcium from the bloodstream and affixes it to the bone matrix. Some researchers even believe that people could continue taking large amounts of calcium if they matched them with equally large amounts of vitamin K2. Personally, I’m not convinced that’s the answer, but I am interested in further research on the subject. In the meantime, focus on getting enough vitamin K2 to handle the calcium you’re getting from your diet as well as increasing your intake of other proven bone-building nutrients before you bring in additional calcium supplements.

One of those other nutrients is zinc, which stimulates bone formation and mineralization. A zinc deficiency has been linked to a slowing of bone growth and deterioration in bone metabolism. Zinc also inhibits the formation of osteoclasts, cells responsible for breaking bone down. It affects the other side of the coin as well by increasing the proliferation of osteoblastic cells, which help build bone up. It seems to do this primarily by increasing collagen synthesis in these cells as they multiply and differentiate.

Another important nutrient is silicon. Yes, believe it or not, you can get silicon in your diet – and it’s great for your bone mineral density. Silicon is present in the soil, so it’s absorbed by plants. And it finds its way into our drinking water. Beer is another good source of silicon, although I can’t suggest that you start drinking just to get some silicon to your bones. Silicon is actually the third most common trace element in our bodies, following iron and zinc, and a deficiency in silicon can lead to defects in connective and skeletal tissues. A review study published in The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging indicated that there’s “no question that silicon appears to have a beneficial role in bone formation and bone health.” As it can be difficult to increase your silicon intake simply by changing your diet (unless you make the switch from processed junk to whole, unprocessed foods, which most of you have done already), supplementation is likely the easiest way to increase your silicon levels. I’ll have more on that below. However, there’s still one more bone-building nutrient you need to know about.

If you’re a beer drinker, you’re already getting the benefit of some extra silicon. And you’re also getting hops, which, believe it or not, are also great for your bones. A study published in the journal Nutrition found that women who drink beer tend to have greater bone density than women who don’t, thanks in part to the hops content in the drink. However, you should note that another study found that women who drink more than 14 alcoholic beverages per week actually have an increased risk of fracture, and alcohol consumption has been linked to breast cancer. So while the phytoestrogens that come from hops can benefit women, packaging them with alcohol doesn’t seem to be the healthiest choice, especially in excess.

The good news is that you can get the benefit of hops without drinking beer. The same goes for silicon. In fact, you can get the benefits of every nutrient I’ve just told you about simply by taking Ultimate Bone Support. It’s got hops and silicon (but no alcohol!). It has zinc. It has 40 mcg of vitamin K2 in every serving. And it’s got 800 IU of vitamin D3. And those are just the nutrients I had space to tell you about this month. There are several other bone-strengthening nutrients in this total skeleton-supporting package.

You’d have to spend well over a hundred dollars every month to get these nutrients individually – not to mention all the legwork you’d have to do to figure out the optimal amounts of each to take. Ultimate Bone Support does the work for you. Plus, it costs less than $30 a month. It’s a truly small price to pay for the peace of mind and independence having strong bones can bring you.

We have many satisfied customers who agree. Linda B. of Amherst, NY, wrote to tell us “I recently went for my bone density test, and after years of no change to the severe bone loss of my spine, this time the result was an improvement to my last test. I can only say that this Ultimate Bone Support is the only reason for this incredible improvement.”

Patricia W. agrees. She wrote, “It worked. My bones are strong after using Ultimate Bone Support. In 2005, I began taking Ultimate Bone Support. In 2010, I had improved so much the doctor told me I did not need another bone scan for 4 years. In 2014, my bone scan was normal.”

Elivera B. of Penns Grove, NJ, reported, “I have been taking Ultimate Bone Support for years. I have put it [to] the test. I have fallen twice, once on my hip on the ice, and recently sprained my ankle, which included the leg area. I did not fracture my leg, and the medical personnel were amazed.”

If calcium were all it took to get results like this, medical personnel would be more amazed when people DID fracture their bones. Clearly, we need other nutrients to support healthy bone density into our later years. While we can certainly take steps to maintain muscle strength and balance as we age, falls are bound to happen – especially if you live in an area that gets icy in the winter, like Elivera. But even if falls are inevitable, fractures don’t have to be.

If you’re already taking Ultimate Bone Support, I’m sure you’re experiencing the benefits of having a stronger skeleton and fewer worries about fractures. But many women are still under the impression that calcium is all they need. They don’t realize that they’re increasing their cardiovascular risk and doing nothing to save their bones.

Consider sharing with your friends what you’ve learned and why you love Ultimate Bone Support. You could save their bones — or even their lives! You can order Ultimate Bone Support by calling 800-791-3395. Make sure you give them special offer code WHA317.

http://www.nature.com/articles/boneres201641
http://cjasn.asnjournals.org/content/5/Supplement_1/S23
http://s3.amazonaws.com/academia.edu.documents/42305868/Changes_in_parameters_of_bone_metabolism20160207-29729-jo0kka.pdf?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAIWOWYYGZ2Y53UL3A&Expires=1500998499&Signature=f%2Fa%2BgZwV8cvie3QgEbMGa2sAdio%3D&response-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3DChanges_in_Parameters_of_Bone_Metabolism.pdf
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0899900701007092
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4566462/
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/(SICI)1520-670X(1998)11:2/3%3C119::AID-JTRA5%3E3.0.CO;2-3/abstract
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2981717/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2658806/
http://www.naturalmedicinejournal.com/journal/2010-04/beer-drinking-and-bone-density
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28729308

Can You Blame Your Blood Sugar Problems on Genetics?

If you suffer from diabetes or have trouble keeping your blood sugar regulated, new research out of Germany may be able to help explain the genetic reason behind this struggle. Scientists at the German Research Centre for Environmental Health have been studying how the liver’s regulation of glucose metabolism and insulin affects the rest of the body. In a study published in Nature Communications, they reported their findings about the genetic mechanisms underlying blood sugar issues.

The researchers believe they’ve found the “switch” that affects this regulation. It’s called transforming growth factor beta 1-stimulated clone 22 D4, or TSC22D4 for short. This switch is found in the liver, and it regulates genes throughout the body. Figuring out how to turn this switch on or off could have key implications for the treatment of diabetic patients.

The researchers were able to identify the key role of TSC22D4 in glucose metabolism from earlier studies that found increasing its production led to severe weight loss in mice with cancer. This suggested that it was playing a key role in metabolism. Sure enough, further research found that TSC22D4 keeps the body from making lipocalin13, a messenger protein sent out from the liver to other organs in the body. Too much TSC22D4 means not enough lipocalin13, which means other organs become unsure about how to handle glucose.

To confirm this, the researchers checked liver tissue from 66 patients, some of whom had type-2 diabetes and some of whom didn’t. Sure enough, those who had diabetes had elevated levels of TSC22D4 and reduced levels of lipocalin13 compared to those who didn’t. The researchers are going to continue studying TSC22D4 to determine if there’s a way to affect its expression, which could be a big help to diabetic patients.

This is an interesting line of research. But there’s no guarantee they’ll be able to find something that works on TSC22D4. Fortunately, this isn’t the only way to keep your blood sugar controlled. You can use Advanced Blood Sugar Formula (800-791-3395) instead. This blend of herbs and nutrients contains ingredients people have used for thousands of years – long before we knew about genetic regulators. These herbs will support insulin sensitivity, healthy blood sugar levels, and proper inflammation response. It’s a great option whether you’re diabetic, pre-diabetic, or trying to avoid diabetes altogether. And it’s a lot easier to remember than transforming growth factor beta 1-stimulated clone 22 D4!

Bilgen Ekim Üstünel, Kilian Friedrich, Adriano Maida, Xiaoyue Wang, Anja Krones-Herzig, Oksana Seibert, Anke Sommerfeld, Allan Jones, Tjeerd P. Sijmonsma, Carsten Sticht, Norbert Gretz, Thomas Fleming, Peter P. Nawroth, Wolfgang Stremmel, Adam J. Rose, Mauricio Berriel-Diaz, Matthias Blüher, Stephan Herzig. Control of diabetic hyperglycaemia and insulin resistance through TSC22D4. Nature Communications, 2016; 7: 13267 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13267

You Can Have a Heart Attack Even if Your Arteries Are Healthy

You may have heard of synergy — two elements working together to be more effective than they could be alone. We generally think of synergy as a good thing. But when it comes to your heart, there are some factors that, if combined, have synergistic effects that can propel you toward heart disease. You can't control one of these factors. But the other you typically can. Here's what the factors are — and why you need to avoid combining them.

The first factor is age. There's not much you can do about that. In fact, if your goal is to lead a long, healthy life, aging is necessary! The alternative means you don't need to worry about heart disease – or anything else, for that matter.

Unlike age, the second factor is something to avoid: obesity. You already know it's a good idea to avoid carrying excess weight. But research recently published in the journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology helps explain why weight creep can be particularly problematic with advancing age.

You probably know that atherosclerotic plaque is a major contributor to heart disease. So doctors have been confused when they have patients who experience heart attacks even though their blood vessels still appear to be in good shape. This situation seems to be particularly common in older, obese patients.

Researchers realized that the problem lies with the smaller capillaries that feed larger blood vessels. Even when the large vessels look healthy, the capillaries' walls may have thickened to the point that they're having trouble dilating properly. This condition is called coronary microvascular dysfunction, or cardiac syndrome X.

The researchers realized that a key contributor to this condition is an enzyme called ADAM17. It has a natural inhibitor, a protein called caveolin-1. But as we age, our caveolin-1 levels go down. And weight gain causes an increase in ADAM17 levels. See the synergy?

For the study, the researchers examined young and obese mice, old and obese mice, obese mice, and old mice. They consistently found that the mice's capillaries were in the most danger in the mice that were old and obese. And they found that mice's capillaries function the same way humans' do when it comes to their response to ADAM17.

Researchers also have connected being female with an increased risk of coronary microvascular dysfunction, so these findings are particularly important for women to take note of. It's common for women to gain a couple pounds every year as their metabolisms change, and this study provides an important reminder of why it's so important to maintain a healthy weight.

If you want the number of candles on your cake to keep increasing, make sure that the number on the scale isn't sneaking up as well. And if you find yourself in obese territory, take steps immediately to get down to a healthy range. There's no magic formula — you'll need to eat less and move more. There are small, easy things you can do. For example, don't eat bread or heavy starches after lunch. Try to stay hydrated — preferably with water and not sugary drinks. Consider adding green tea, as it helps to bump up the metabolism a bit. But you'll find those strategies have much more positive synergistic effects than letting age and weight get the better of you.

Source: Huijuan Dou, Attila Feher, Alec C. Davila, Maritza J. Romero, Vijay S. Patel, Vinayak M. Kamath, Monika Beck Gooz, R. Daniel Rudic, Rudolf Lucas, David J. Fulton, Neal L. Weintraub, Zsolt Bagi. Role of Adipose Tissue Endothelial ADAM17 in Age-Related Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction Highlights. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 2017; 37 (6): 1180 DOI: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.117.309430.

Nutrition Detective

These Nutrients Can Cool Hot Flashes and Clear Up Your Skin

I've been treating patients with atopic dermatitis (itchy, inflamed skin) for years. Fortunately, about 20 years ago, I came across a study that has guided my approach — much to the relief of several of my patients who couldn't find solutions elsewhere.

That was the case for Elisabeth, who not only had dermatitis, but was also going through menopause. As you can imagine, she was miserable. She had tried Premarin (an estrogen replacement therapy), but it made her feel even worse, especially because it just inflamed her skin further. Her gynecologist took her off Premarin, but wasn't sure what to do instead for her dermatitis. Elisabeth came to me for help.

I had read a study about women with atopic dermatitis. For this study, researchers divided 60 participants with atopic dermatitis into two groups. One group received a placebo, while the other received gamma-linolenic acid for 12 weeks. A dermatologist evaluated the participants' skin every four weeks, and the women also completed self-evaluations. Compared to the control group, the gamma-linolenic acid group showed gradual, but significant improvements over the course of the study.

I had a feeling that gamma-linolenic acid would be a great solution for Elisabeth — and not just because it would help her skin. I prescribed her 1,000 mg of primrose oil (which contains gamma-linolenic acid) three times a day for three months. I also had her take 500 mg of pantothenic acid three times a day for the first 10 days and then continue with a liquid vitamin B complex.

After only a week, she called to report that her skin was looking and feeling better. But not only that — her hot flashes had been cut in half. I suspected that might happen. You see, gamma-linolenic acid doesn't just reduce inflammation; it can have a unique impact on hormones as well.

Since Elisabeth, primrose oil has been one of my go-to treatments for atopic dermatitis. You can find inexpensive options on Amazon such as hexane-free NOW Super Primrose product or Barleans Organic Primrose Oil. It's worth a try if you're suffering from an inflammatory skin condition.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24435467

LETTERS

Q: You’ve written a lot about the negative side effects caused by statins. Do we really need to lower our cholesterol? – Mary H., via email

Dear Mary,

When it comes to lowering cholesterol, you have to be careful. That’s because there are four main bodily functions that cholesterol is responsible for that we could not live without.

(1) Aids in the production of certain critical hormones
(2) Important component of digestive bile acids in the intestines
(3) Critical to the structure of cell walls
(4) Aids the body in the production of vitamin D
With that said, sometimes our cholesterol does need to come down. But it’s best if you don’t force it down with drugs. It’s far better to first try to bring it down naturally. Start with foods that have been shown to lower cholesterol. These include:
(1) Fruits and vegetables
(2) Oats and barley (beta gluten soluble fiber)
(3) Mixed unprocessed nuts (especially walnuts and almonds)

In addition to whole foods, there are supplements such as Mediterranean Cholesterol Formula (800-791-3395) that can help bring your cholesterol down gently and effectively. Statins can play a role in cholesterol management for certain cases, but a large percentage of people don’t need them if they’re willing to participate in their health. These easy steps will often work for most people.

Q. Your slogan: “Cutting-edge nutraceuticals formulated by doctors” caught my attention. Is estrogen the catalyst that allows Ultimate Bone Support to help rebuild bones? If I take aromatase inhibitors, cutting off the estrogen, will Ultimate Bone Support work for me? I'm sure I'm not the only cancer patient looking for this answer. – Sue, via email

Dear Sue,

The primary functional ingredient in this formula is strontium citrate. Strontium citrate does not have any researched or referenced interaction with estrogen or aromatase inhibitors. It has not been correlated in the literature that it needs estrogen to be effective.

What is known is that if you have elevated amounts of estrogen in your blood, which is unlikely for you, as you are on aromatase inhibitors, you may (and this has not been well researched) metabolize the strontium citrate more slowly.

You also should note that hops is also an ingredient that is known to be a phytoestrogen (plant bearing natural plant estrogens). This particular hops extract used in this formula is not phytoestrogen driven. It is extracted with the focus on at least 30% alpha acids. Alpha acids have been shown to impact healthy blood glucose and lower inflammation.

Part of losing bone involves a process which is now believed to be an inflammatory cascade. The addition of hops to this formula helps to proactively prevent or at least minimize this inflammatory step.

We have heard from other cancer patients through the years and they have chosen this formula because it continues to appear to be safe and effective.