Progesterone & Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a disorder in which progressive bone mass loss and demineralization increase ones risk of fracture. This condition allows us to observe how prescription progestins and estrogens compare to natural progesterone.
The standard medical treatment for osteoporosis is to use estrogen, (commonly from pregnant mare's urine), in spite of the fact that the most authoritative medical text books do not support that form of treatment, as the following example illustrates:
"Estrogens decrease bone resorption" but "associated with the decrease in bone resorption is a decrease in bone formation."
Scientific American’s Updated Medicine Text, 1991
Bone tissue should be broken down and rebuilt continuously, just like all of the cells in our body. This process takes place when osteoclast cells dissolve old bone tissue, while osteoblast cells stimulate new bone growth. Because estrogen has a rate-limiting effect on osteoclasts, it only delays the breakdown of old bone tissue. Natural progesterone, on the other hand, stimulates osteoblast cells which results in new bone tissue growth.
It is important to note that strong, health bones depend on:
- Sufficient dietary calcium with necessary co-factors
- Vitamins D and K (made by friendly bacteria in the gut)
- Exercise
- Stress management
- Avoiding fluoride
- Optimal progesterone levels
Some Important Osteoporosis Research
The importance of progesterone was verified by a three year study of 63 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Women using progesterone cream experienced an average 7-8% bone mineral density increase the first year, 4-5% the second year and 3-4% the third year. Untreated women in this age category typically lose 1.5% bone mineral density per year.
These results have not been found with any other form of hormone replacement therapy or dietary supplementation, including Fosamax or Evista which have multiple, published, undesirable side-effects.