Read This if You Care About Your Bones!

Of the many documented benefits of omega-3 fats- from improving the circulatory system to improving mood, from lowering inflammation to lowering blood pressure- one that we haven't heard much about is bone strengthening.

That's about to change.

A new study published in the Sept 18 Journal of Urology measured the bone density of 247 older adults. They also asked the subjects to report on their daily omega-3 intake.

The researchers found a significant correlation between omega-3 intake and bone strength.

The average intake of omega-3 fatty acids in this group was only 1.27 grams per day, not a particularly high amount. But those consuming less than that had significantly lower bone mass scores than those consuming more than the average.

Exactly how omega-3's help support bone strength isn't completely clear yet, but bone demineralization is a huge problem for older adults. We're inundated with commercials for milk and told that if we don't take copious amounts of calcium, we're just asking for a hip fracture later in life. Maybe we should start focusing on other supporting nutrients like omega-3's (not to mention magnesium, boron and vitamin D).

Hip fractures are very very serious in older adults. A recent study in the scientific journal Injury says that mortality after a hip fracture is between 11-23% at 6 months and between 22-29% at 1 year from fracture!

In related news, the FDA is amending its labeling regulating that now authorizes a limited health claim on the relationship between calcium and a reduced risk of osteoporosis to include vitamin D.

Of course, if you've been reading this newsletter, the relationship of vitamin D to strong bones (as well as a host of other positive things) is no news to you.

But it's evidently news to others. According to new research published at the annual meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research in Montreal, less than half (43%) of patients in Europe with osteoporosis take both calcium and vitamin D with their osteoporosis treatment. "Patients with a low intake of calcium and vitamin D may not be receiving the full benefit of their osteoporosis treatment if they don't take enough supplementation" says Professor Steven Boonen, MD, PhD of Leuven University in Belgium.

For the record, two excellent bone formulas that I recommend highly are OsteoSheath and OsteoPrime Forte. You can't go wrong with either, and both of them blow the ordinary "calcium/ magnesium" supplements away. A daily dose of OsteoSheath contains 1200 mg of calcium, 600 IUs of vitamin D, 600 mg of magnesium, plus all sorts of supporting minerals including boron and silicon, which are usually missing from bone-strengthening formulas. It comes in a small tablet (4 a day) and a slightly larger tablet (3 a day).

OsteoPrime Forte takes a slightly different approach, including even more minerals and vitamins (but slightly less calcium and magnesium). It was designed by the legendary physicians Alan Gaby, MD and Jonathan Wright, MD and can virtually be used as a multiple vitamin.

A third option is to use Douglas Lab's Cal-6-Mag, a terrific basic calcium/ magnesium formula with 400 IUs of vitamin D included and supplement it with omega-3's.

For the month of October, we will be featuring an amazing free offer: With every order from the vitamin store of $99. or more, you'll get a FREE bottle of Douglas Labs' Cal-6-Mag AND a free bottle of Carlson's omega-3's.