Osteopenia in GDD and GDD chelation. Considerations.

Since I have written over 400 blogs, it actually helps when patients ask me questions that I have not addressed before. This is one subject that a well informed patient/colleague of mine brought to me about her own condition. She has just recently had a bone density measurements which was very low and she is less than 30 years of age. Here is my response:

As preface, osteopenia is general low bone density and mineral content of bone. Osteoporosis is more severe deficiency of bone density and mineral content. Women in general, especially slim women are at greater risk for low bone density, and post menopause this is quite common. These are independent of GDD. GDD also is more common in women, many sufferers are slim, and a significant number are postmenopausal.

This is my response:

This is a very complex issue. The major repository for Gd is bone, so with the constant inflammatory and other negative factors of Gd presence. This will have a major impact on bone- probably the largest.

Then Gd directly affects hormones estrogen and testosterone production, which both are integral to bone formation.

Inactivity is a huge cause of bone loss.

Then effects of Mast Cell Activation Syndrome.

Then there is the steroid use, both iv and oral accompanying chelation, and use after chelation/ independent of chelation to control Flare.

In your case iv steroids were just 4 sessions. Were they all full dose? Now I am not sure how much and for how long you were taking oral steroids.

So in your case the causes for osteopenia I would rate as this, in descending order of importance:

1. Complex and multiple causes of Gd reaction in GDD in bone causing osteopenia.

2. Systemic cytokine and other cell products effect on bone.

3. Physical inactivity.

4. Oral steroids… depends how much and for how long you have been taking them.

5. Lack of sufficient sun exposure.

6. Mast cell activation syndrome.

7. Endocrine effects caused by GDD.

8. Local and systemic effects from removal of Gd by chelation.

9. Unknown effects of various supplements and drugs (including mast cell stabilizers).

There is a myriad of causes.

So what to do:

The things you can control:

1. Increase amount of exercise

2. Increase amount of sun exposure. Combining 1 and 2, daily walks in the sun.

3. Check vitamin D and sex hormone levels.

4. Take vitamin D supplementation. Do this anyway regardless of 3.

5. Increase diet of calcium rich foods. Examples meat, fish, nuts

6. Possible Calcium supplementation and possible drugs for osteopenia.

7. Limit use of steroids moving forward. This includes earlier full use of drugs addressing Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (if applicable) rather than heavy reliance on oral steroids.

8. Pay attention to other drugs that may cause osteopenia

9. Possibly return to chelation to get more Gd out of bone, but with decreased use of steroids.

Richard Semelka, MD