So, here's a little background:
I am allergic to dairy (causes awful skin rashes) and osteoporosis runs in my family (my great-aunt fractured her bones from rolling over in bed). I was diagnosed with osteopenia at around age 26. I am now getting close to the big 4-0. I am very nutrition-conscious (very much into whole, organic foods; RARELY eat anything processed (not even energy bars with all their saturated fat); skinless boneless chicken once per week, otherwise fish, brown rice protein powder, egg whites, or lentils for protein; take 10g fish oil per day (combo of fish oil pills, salmon, and sardines); once in a while a tablespoon of flax, 1500 mg calcium/750 mg magnesium daily, vitamin b-complex daily, vitamin c and e several times per week, and just about two months ago started taking 2000 IU of vitamin d per day. Why so much vitamin d? Well, it turns out that my avid avoidance of the sun (I wear titanium dioxide/zinc oxide sunscreen whenever I'm anywhere near the sun and wear SPF treated clothing as well - long sleeve SPF jerseys and cycling tights even in the heat of summer) has created a SEVERE vitamin d deficiency - my level was EIGHT and the low end of normal is around 30. My doc said that as my vitamin d levels increse my bone pain should decrease - yay!
As far as exercise goes, I cycle (of course), jog, do power yoga, and resistance exercises with resistance bands. Recently I joined a gym (yuck) and have been going three mornings a week and using the weights. I have been very active all my life, from competitive ice skating to high school cross-country team.
So, where is all of this going? I just had another DEXA scan done a few weeks ago and my bone levels have diminished to the point that I am on the very brink of osteporosis. I am so discouraged. My doc seems to think it is due to the vitamin d deficiency.
I've been doing some research and see that vitamin k2 has been used in mega doses of 45 milligrams per day and that the benefit has been equal to or better than Fosomax and some of the other prescription medications that I'd like to avoid. However, I am having a hard time finding vitamin k2 in doses higher than 400 micrograms, let alone 45 milligrams!!!
Here is one of the studies I've read: http://www.thorne.com/altmedrev/.fulltext/10/1/24.pdf
Anyway, does anyone else have good suggestions?
Oh, and my cholesterol is high too. Go figure. And, yes, I eat organic rye, barley, oats, wheat hot cereal at least 5 mornings per week for breakfast, lots and lots of veggies, very very little oil and only olive oil on the rare occasions that I use it.
Of course, my husband goes out and eats a double cheeseburger with fries and a milkshake the night before his cholesterol test and passes with flying colors. Grrrrrr . . . . :confused: