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Ipriflavone - A Foundation for Healthy Bones |
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by totalhealth Editors
Ipriflavone—A Foundation for Healthy Bones
 steoporosis is recognized as one of
the most insidious degenerative
diseases plaguing the U.S. and other
Westernized countries.
Osteoporosis is a silent, progressive disease
characterized by decreased bone density
and increased bone fragility. It affects 15 to
20 million people in the U.S. at any given time
and is responsible for $13 billion in healthcare
costs. Fractures of the hip and spine have
the most dramatic effect on people’s lives.
One-quarter of the deaths experienced by
elderly people are a direct or indirect result of
hip fractures. Half of the older adults who
survive hip fractures will not be able to walk
without assistance and 25 percent of these
survivors will require nursing home care.
Spinal fractures result in constant pain,
deformity and loss of height, a stooped posture
and disability.
According to the National Osteoporosis
Foundation, women have a lifetime risk of 40
percent of getting osteoporosis. A woman’s
risk of a hip fracture is equal to the combined
risk of breast cancer, uterine cancer and
ovarian cancer. One in eight men will also
develop an osteoporosis-related fracture in
their lifetime.
Board certified radiologist Edward
Strauss, M.D. states, “What many women
don’t know is that osteoporosis is treatable
and the earlier it is caught, the better.”
According to Dr. Strauss, the following
groups are at high risk for osteoporosis and
should consider Duel Energy X-ray
Absorptiometry (DEXA), bone density
screening:
- All women within a few years of menopause, particularly if it could have an impact on their decision to take hormones or not.
- People with risk factors such as a positive family history. If you’ve got a mother or grandmother who had problems with fractures or what is called a dowager’s hump, you are at particular risk for osteoporosis.
- Women who had early menopause (in their thirties) due to the removal of ovaries or other reasons.
- People on medications. Certain medications such as steroids, blood thinners and treatments for thyroid problems may decrease bone mass.
- People with a known history of fractures or bone injuries that are not caused by massive trauma. If you are someone who gets stress fractures from something as simple as jogging, that could be a warning sign.
- Postmenopausal women.
In his book, Build Bone Health, Freedolph
Anderson, M.D., explains that “By following a
comprehensive prevention plan you can beat
the odds and defy the statistics.” Dr.
Anderson’s plan includes diet, exercise and
nutrients, including ipriflavone, a unique
substance which has been shown in clinical
studies to minimize bone loss and maximize
bone mass, which are the key goals of any
osteoporosis prevention and treatment plan.
Ipriflavone is a compound which naturally
occurs in foods and plants. Alfalfa is the
richest source of ipriflavone, however, it is
also found in propolis (from bees) and some
plants. Now that scientific studies have confirmed
the bone health benefits of ipriflavone,
researchers have discovered a
technology that isolates and mass produces
ipriflavone. Today, ipriflavone is available
over-the-counter as a dietary ingredient
identified as Ostivone™ in many bonebuilding
formulas.
Dr. Anderson reports ipriflavone is “perhaps
the most thoroughly examined compound
in the natural health industry.”
Ipriflavone has been shown to:
- Stimulate the synthesis and secretion of calcitonin, a hormone that promotes calcium metabolism
- Stimulate bone formation while increasing bone mineral density
- Decrease fracture rate and complement prescription estrogen therapy
Ipriflavone has an impressive scientific record. It has been the subject of more than 60 different clinical studies in Italy, Japan and Hungary, featuring almost 2800 patients with confirmed osteoporosis. There have been more than 16 randomized, placebocontrolled human studies, with all of them demonstrating either maintenance of bone mineral density or an increase. Dozens of articles have been featured in the scientific literature on ipriflavone’s influence on bone structure.
Effects of Ipriflavone
on Bone Mass In
Postmenopausal Women
The total benefit is the bone density you
don't lose plus the bone density you gain.
Many women trying to prevent or treat osteoporosis are often presented with conventional hormone replacement therapy (i.e., Premarin). For women who cannot tolerate the side effects of estrogen or are concerned about their risk of developing breast cancer, many experts believe ipriflavone is a good alternative to estrogen for bone health.
The recommended dosage of ipriflavone is 600mg per day in divided doses (200mg three times
daily). “There is no indication that more than 600mg daily is ever required,” explains Dr.
Anderson.
For individuals interested in supplementing with the nutrient ipriflavone, look for the trade
name Ostivone on the manufacturer’s label where natural products are sold.
For more information call 1-800-OSTIVONE (1-800-678-4866) or visit
www.ostivone.com TH
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