Women taking Fosamax for several years may be prone to femur fractures
Bisphosphonates (Fosamax, Boniva, Actonel, Reclast), along with calcium and vitamin D supplementation, are a common conventional treatment for osteoporosis. These drugs are even used for prevention of osteoporosis in those with osteopenia.

Bone tissue continually goes through a cycle of formation of new bone and breakdown of old bone. Bisphosphonates increase bone mineral density in the short term by reducing bone breakdown , essentially reducing bone loss. However, since bisphosphonates accumulate in bone tissue and suppress bone turnover, there has been concern about the strength and integrity of the affected bone. This suppression of bone turnover by bisphosphonates is hypothesized to make bones become brittle despite the increase seen in bone mineral density. It is not the same thing as building natural healthy bone with exercise.
Data has now arisen showing that these concerns are indeed warranted. Evidence supporting the hypothesis above has been provided by one study showing reduced bone formation and increased bone breakdown upon long-term use of alendronate (Fosamax) – these bones would be far more prone to fracture.1
Several studies have reported the occurrence of specific and rare types of femur fractures – low-impact subtrochanteric or diaphyseal fractures – in individuals (mostly women) who had been taking bisphosphonates, specifically alendronate, for approximately 4-8 years.2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
Two new studies presented at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons national meeting this week have drawn more attention to this potential hazard.10
A frightening detail of these case reports is that the fractures are occurring under minimal trauma – these fractures are not from big falls. In fact, in most cases, these women were performing low-energy exercise, sometimes just walking down a flight of stairs.11,12
Prevention of osteoporosis and bone fractures need not involve potentially dangerous drugs. Exercise is a crucial component of Dr. Fuhrman’s recommendations - most hip fractures result from falls, and increasing muscle strength and balance improve stability and prevent these falls.13 Increased thigh muscle strength is also associated with lower mortality risk.14
Dr. Fuhrman’s recommendations for osteoporosis protection:
1. Eat a high nutrient diet.
2. Take the right supplements.
3. Do the right type of Osteoporosis fighting exercises. Swimming and biking will not do it. The best bone building exercises designed to strengthen muscles and bone and to improve balance, reducing the risk of falls are demonstrated in Dr. Fuhrman’s DVD Osteoporosis Protection For Life.
References:
[1] Somford MP, Draijer FW, Thomassen BJ, et al. Bilateral fractures of the femur diaphysis in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis on long-term treatment with alendronate: clues to the mechanism of increased bone
fragility. J Bone Miner Res. 2009 Oct;24(10):1736-40.
2 Cermak K, Shumelinsky F, Alexiou J, et al. Case Reports: Subtrochanteric Femoral Stress Fractures after Prolonged Alendronate Therapy. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2009 Dec 18. [Epub ahead of print]
3 Capeci CM, Tejwani NC. Bilateral low-energy simultaneous or sequential femoral fractures in patients on long-term alendronate therapy. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2009 Nov;91(11):2556-61.
4 Goddard MS, Reid KR, Johnston JC, Khanuja HS. Atraumatic bilateral femur fracture in long-term bisphosphonate use. Orthopedics. 2009 Aug;32(8). pii: orthosupersite.com/view.asp?rID=41933..
5 Ing-Lorenzini K, Desmeules J, Plachta O, et al. Low-energy femoral fractures associated with the long-term use of bisphosphonates: a case series from a Swiss university hospital. Drug Saf. 2009;32(9):775-85.
6 Lenart BA, Lorich DG, Lane JM. Atypical fractures of the femoral diaphysis in postmenopausal women taking alendronate. N Engl J Med. 2008 Mar 20;358(12):1304-6.
7 Sayed-Noor AS, Sjödén GO. Case reports: two femoral insufficiency fractures after long-term alendronate
therapy. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2009 Jul;467(7):1921-6. Epub 2009 Feb 6.
8 Neviaser AS, Lane JM, Lenart BA, et al. Low-energy femoral shaft fractures associated with alendronate use. J Orthop Trauma. 2008 May-Jun;22(5):346-50.
9 Kwek EB, Goh SK, Koh JS, Png MA, Howe TS. An emerging pattern of subtrochanteric stress fractures: a long-term complication of alendronate therapy? Injury. 2008 Feb;39(2):224-31. Epub 2008 Jan 28.
10 LA Times: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2010/03/bisphosphonates-osteoporosis-medications.html
11Somford MP, Geurts GF, den Teuling JW, et al. Long-Term Alendronate Use Not without Consequences? Int J Rheumatol. 2009;2009:253432. Epub 2010 Jan 27.
12 ABC News: Fosamax: Is Long Term Use of Bone Strengthening Drug Linked to Fractures? http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/fosamax-long-term-bone-strengthening-drug-linked-fractures/story?id=10045179
13Ueki S, Kasai T, Takato J et al. Production of a fall prevention exercise program considering suggestions from community-dwelling elderly. Nippon Koshu Eisei Zasshi. 2006;53(2):112-121.
14 Newman AB, Kupelian V, Visser M, et al. Strength, but not muscle mass, is associated with mortality in the health, aging and body composition study cohort. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2006 Jan;61(1):72-7.
The practice of chicken “plumping” by the industry has many consumers outraged. Plumping is term used to refer to injection of salt water, chicken stock, seaweed extract, or some combination of these into chickens – this increases the weight and price of the chicken – plumped chicken can be up to 15% salt water by weight. Of course, cost is important, but even more important is that this practice can also increase the sodium content of the chicken by up to 700%. About 30% of the chickens sold in the U.S. are plumped.



.jpg)
Three months later, back home, I got on the scales. Even though the picture on the left shows the strain of crisis on my face, I was forty pounds lighter; and more importantly, I was no longer addicted to toxic foods. I now craved fresh greens and fruits. Diet soda, diet desserts and salty foods tasted disgusting to me. I could walk for ½ hour every morning and evening, and feel great. My body was thoroughly refreshed after a good night’s sleep, and brain fog had completely disappeared.
Statins are a class of drugs used to treat elevated LDL cholesterol levels. Recently, researchers carried out a meta-analysis of 13 statin vs. placebo trials. Collectively, these researchers included over 90,000 subjects in their analysis, and came to the conclusion that taking statin drugs to lower cholesterol increases the likelihood of being diagnosed with diabetes by 9% over the following four years.
.jpg)
In coronary heart disease (CHD) patients, higher levels of the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA in the blood are associated with survival.
.jpg)
For many, Valentine’s Day is filled with candlelit dinners, flowers and romance. Yet, unfortunately, for many others, it's just another day filled with disappointment due to a loved one’s confusing perils of addiction. 
How did it affect your finances? 





