title: Combination of Micronutrients for Bone (COMB) Study: bone density after micronutrient intervention.
abstract: Along with other investigations, patients presenting to an environmental health clinic with various chronic conditions were assessed for bone health status. Individuals with compromised bone strength were educated about skeletal health issues and provided with therapeutic options for potential amelioration of their bone health. Patients who declined pharmacotherapy or who previously experienced failure of drug treatment were offered other options including supplemental micronutrients identified in the medical literature as sometimes having a positive impact on bone mineral density (BMD). After 12 months of consecutive supplemental micronutrient therapy with a combination that included vitamin D(3), vitamin K(2), strontium, magnesium and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), repeat bone densitometry was performed. The results were analyzed in a group of compliant patients and demonstrate improved BMD in patients classified with normal, osteopenic and osteoporotic bone density. According to the results, this combined micronutrient supplementation regimen appears to be at least as effective as bisphosphonates or strontium ranelate in raising BMD levels in hip, spine, and femoral neck sites. No fractures occurred in the group taking the micronutrient protocol. This micronutrient regimen also appears to show efficacy in individuals where bisphosphonate therapy was previously unsuccessful in maintaining or raising BMD. Prospective clinical trials are required to confirm efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6K 4C1. sgenuis@ualberta.ca
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Genuis
authors.forename: Thomas P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Bouchard
mesh_terms: D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005272:Femur Neck / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000517:prevention & control; D006615:Hip / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000188:drug therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013131:Spine / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates; D018977:Micronutrients; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D013876:Thiophenes; C081587:strontium ranelate; D014807:Vitamin D