Mineral Testing and Osteoporosis

Summary

This is a case study involving a postmenopausal woman with osteoporosis. The case illustrates how whole blood minerals and toxic metals testing can give clues to causes of osteoporosis and help with supplement recommendations.

Details

A postmenopausal woman with low vitamin D presented with osteoporosis. Whole blood mineral testing was done and low magnesium was discovered. A study is discussed that concluded that magnesium levels are significantly lower in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Further testing of toxic heavy metals in whole blood showed that the patient had high cadmium. The main routes of cadmium exposure are inhalation of tobacco smoke and ingestion through foods.  Red blood cell toxic heavy metals reflect recent exposure, whereas urinary cadmium reflects total body burden.  Chronic cadmium exposure can lead to nephrotoxicity over time.  Bone disease that results from cadmium exposure is believed to be secondary to changes in calcium metabolism due to cadmium-induced renal damage.

Supplementation recommendations include, vitamin D, vitamin K, nutrient elements, and light chelation. Further testing could include urinary heavy metals, urine deoxypyridinoline, amino acids, and vitamin D and K.