Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Sinus Infections or Sinusitis Part 2 Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND In my last blog on sinusitis I started with a description of what the sinuses are, where they are and even what they do. I then talked about what the symptoms of sinusitis are. (1,2,3) …
Sinus Infections or Sinusitis Part 1 Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND I wanted to talk about sinus infections for several reasons. Obviously, the location of the sinus cavities plays a role in the decision to talk about them during a review of dental health. In …
Strontium Citrate for Bone Health
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
I wanted to talk about Strontium citrate because most people have either not heard of it or have some very interesting ideas about it. In fact I recently had a conversation with someone who wasn’t sure if strontium was even safe (spoiler alert it is safe!). So what is strontium citrate? What does it do? What is the best way to take it? Let’s get into it, shall we?
Simply put Strontium citrate is a nutrient very similar to calcium or even magnesium. (1) Now I know what you’re probably thinking, is it safe to use? The answer is yes strontium citrate is safe to use. When it comes to strontium citrate studies conclude that “strontium in its natural citrate form improves healthy bone mineralization and resistance to fracture”. While strontium ranelate may potentially have side effects strontium citrate is a different molecule. In fact strontium citrate “has an excellent safety record”. And while it is true that calcium and strontium share a common carrier system to get into the body this system will always prioritize calcium over strontium! So those rumors that you may have heard about strontium preventing calcium absorption are just malarkey! If you are at all concerned then the best answer is to separate them by 2 hours. Lastly studies done to check the safety of strontium citrate have found that using strontium citrate as part of a bone building protocol is perfectly safe! (2)
Now we have talked about the safety of Strontium citrate however we haven’t talked about the benefits of using it! Why would you even want to use it? Well a recent study found positive effects of using strontium on bone density, bone structure and the overall strength of the bones. It was also found that using strontium citrate daily for 5 years can possibly lead to new bone tissue formation and help to maintain calcium levels. (3) Studies have found that adding strontium to a bone health protocol can improve bone density. (4) In another study made up of 81% postmenopausal women adding strontium to their bone heath protocol lead to “significant improvements in bone density”. (5) Other studies have also reported that strontium has beneficial effects on bone health. (6) Interestingly strontium citrate use has been reported to help reduce bone pain. (2)
As I said in my blog on dental bone loss Strontium citrate can play an important part in addressing our dental health. In fact studies have found that strontium citrate can improve bone formation in the mouth! (7) Studies have also found that strontium citrate can reduce the loss of tooth enamel leading to healthier teeth. (8)
While strontium citrate has been found to be safe it is still filtered through the kidneys. Anyone who has kidney failure should not take strontium. I would also like to point out that dialysis fluids can contain high concentrations of strontium and thus I do not recommend strontium citrate for anyone on dialysis. (2) In my clinical experience anyone with osteopenia or osteoporosis with normal kidney function is an excellent candidate for strontium citrate supplements.
How is it recommended to use strontium citrate? Strontium citrate is what I like to call a loner. You really want to take it all by itself. Ideally it should be taken 1 hour before food and or supplements/medications. If you want you could eat and take any supplements/ medications then wait 2 hours and then take strontium. In my experience strontium citrate does not affect sleep. So you can take it at night. In fact I had 1 person tell me they take it during their 2 AM bathroom break! And that is ok. As long as it’s away from food. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to an Invite Nutritionist!
Next up will be Sinus pain and infections!
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Dental Bone Loss Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Bone loss is a topic that every woman has heard of once they reach a certain age. However, men must also be concerned with bone loss! Typically, when most people think of bone loss they usually think of …
Understanding Vitamin C Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND In my experience everyone has heard that Vitamin C is good for our health. In fact, it’s everywhere you look these days! But while you may have heard that using vitamin C is “good for the health of …
Dry Mouth
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
Most people have had the sensation of a dry mouth in the past. Whether it be because you are thirsty or you have just woken up having that dry feeling in your mouth is not uncommon. However, having a clinical diagnosis of dry mouth is different. There are a number of distinct reasons that people may develop dry mouth. While you may not think so dry mouth can also have complications. Let us get into it, shall we?
When diagnosed with dry mouth, otherwise known as Xerostomia, there is chronic dry mouth that occurs because the salivary glands are unable to make enough saliva to lubricate the mouth. This lack of saliva can be a result of certain medications. These medications can include those that are used for depression, high blood pressure, anxiety, antihistamines, decongestants, muscle relaxants and even certain pain relievers. It is well known that chemotherapy and radiation treatment can affect saliva production and lead to dry mouth. In addition to proscription medications recreational drugs, alcohol and tobacco products can lead to dry mouth. Certain changes as we age can also lead to dry mouth. For example, in my clinical experience poorly fit dentures can lead to poor nutrition and this in turn can lead to dry mouth. Another aspect of aging that no one wants to talk about is snoring and mouth breathing. In my clinical experience and to be frank, just plain old life experience snoring is more common as we age. As you may expect snoring or mouth breathing both increase the risk of dry mouth. Anything that damages the nerves to the head and neck area can lead to dry mouth. In addition to anything that leads to damage to the nerves, anything that results in damage to the salivary glands themselves can lead to a reduction in saliva production. For example, radiation treatments can temporarily damage the salivary glands and lead to less saliva being produced. Lastly having certain health conditions can lead to dry mouth. For example, having diabetes, thrush, Alzheimer’s disease, or a prior stroke can lead to a dry mouth. Sjogrens syndrome, an autoimmune disease can cause dry mouth. Having HIV/AIDs can also increase the risk of dry mouth.
Now as I said, having a dry mouth can have complications. Well to start with a dry mouth can be uncomfortable. It can also affect how well you are able to eat. This can affect your nutrition and even lead to deficiencies in the long term. Dry mouth can affect the gums as well. This means it can increase the risk of plaque, gum disease and tooth decay. A dry mouth can lead to mouth sores, cracked lips and even sores or split skin at the corners of the mouth. Lastly dry mouth can increase the risk of developing thrush.
What are the symptoms of dry mouth? I bet I know what you are thinking, Dr. Claire, the symptoms of a dry mouth are obvious. It is a dry mouth with a sticky feeling. While it is true saliva is more than just a lubricant. It is an important part of our digestion. When there’s not enough saliva it can make it harder to taste, chew, swallow, speak or even to wear dentures. It can affect the entire digestive process. You may notice bad breath. The saliva you do have may seem thick and stringy. There may be a dry or sore throat, and you may be hoarse. You may even notice a change in how you perceive taste. Lipstick may stick to your teeth. Lastly changes to your tongue may include dryness or grooved tongue. (1)
What can you do?
Our next product highlight will be good old-fashioned Vitamin C!
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