There is evidence to suggest strontium (Sr) is an essential trace mineral.
Strontium (Sr) may replace Calcium in some organisms including man; essential trace element. Strontium is softer than calcium and reactive in water, which strontium decomposes on contact with water to produce strontium hydroxide and hydrogen gas.
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Strontium is similar to calcium in chemical composition and is important for proper bone growth and prevention of dental caries. Like calcium, strontium has two positive charges in its ionic form. Because of its chemical similarity to calcium, strontium may replace calcium to some extent in various biochemical processes in the body, including replacing a small proportion of the calcium in hydroxyapatite crystals of calcified tissues such as bones and teeth. Strontium in these crystals imparts additional strength to these tissues. Strontium also appears to draw extra calcium into bones.
McCaslin, F.E., Jr., and Janes, J.M. The effect of strontium lactate in the treatment of osteoporosis. Proc Staff Meetings Mayo Clin, 1959, 34:329-334.
In Studies: Researchers at St. Mary's Hospital in Montreal, Canada, have found that Sr may confer a protective effect of certain energy-producing structures within the cell. Not to be confused with radioactive strontium 90, Sr is stable and one of the least toxic trace elements.
History: The mineral strontianite is named after the Scottish village of Strontian having been discovered in the lead mines there in 1787. Adair Crawford recognized it as differing from other barium minerals in 1790. Strontium itself was discovered in 1798 by Thomas Charles Hope, and metallic strontium was first isolated by Sir Humphry Davy in 1808 using electrolysis.
Strontium has been safely used as a healing substance for over one hundred years. Strontium was first listed in Squire’s Companion to the British Pharma-copoiea in 1884 and was used therapeutically in the United States and Europe. As late as 1955, strontium compounds were still listed in the Dispensatory of the United States of America.
Technicals: Strontium (symbol Sr) is an element in the periodic table that has the atomic number 38. An alkaline earth metal, strontium is a soft silver-white or yellowish metallic element that is highly reactive chemically. The metal turns yellow when exposed to air. Strontium naturally occurs in minerals as the 15th most abundant element on earth, averaging 0.034% of all igneous rock and is found chiefly as the form of the sulfate mineral celestite (SrSO4) and the carbonate strontianite (SrCO3).
Strontium is also the most abundant trace element in seawater, at a concentration of 8.1 parts per million.
The human body contains about 320 mg of strontium, nearly all of which is in bone and connective tissue.
The 90Sr isotope is present in radioactive fallout with a half-life of 28.9 years.
The body absorbs strontium as if it were calcium. Due to the elements being sufficiently similar chemically, the stable forms of strontium do not pose a significant health threat, but the radioactive 90Sr can lead to various bone disorders and diseases, including bone cancer. The strontium unit is used in measuring radioactivity from absorbed 90Sr.
An innovative drug made by combining strontium with ranelic acid has aided in bone growth, boosted bone density and lessened vetrebral, peripheral and hip fractures.[3] [4] Women receiving the drug showed a 12.7% increase in bone density. Women receiving a placebo had a 1.6% decrease. Half the increase in bone density (measured by x-ray densitometry) is attributed to the higher atomic weight of Sr compared with calcium, whereas the other half a true increase in bone mass. It means that strontium ranelate creates new and strong bone. Strontium ranelate (marketed under the trade names Protelos, Osseor, Protos, Bivalos, Protaxos, Ossum) is registered for treatment of osteoporosis in many countries all over the world. Strontium ranelate has been shown to strengthen bones, according presentations given the IOF World Congress on Osteoporosis, in June of 2006. It also reduced bone resorbtion.
Strontium ranelate is registered as a prescription drug in Europe and many countries worldwide. It needs to be prescribed by a doctor, delivered by a pharmacist and requires a strict medical supervision. Currently, (early 2007) it is not available in Canada or the United States.
Several other salts of strontium such as strontium citrate or strontium carbonate are often presented as natural therapies testing
Antagonist: Known to inhibit vitamin D synthesis
Signs or Symptoms of a Deficiency: Deficiencies of strontium are associated with certain types of Ca and B resistant osteoporosis and arthritis.
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