Do you have recent documentation about stable strontium and bone health?
The larger part of absorbed strontium is inserted in bones. Is this because of its similarity to calcium?
What is the specific function of strontium?
Strontium can be considered as the most studied ‘Ca-like’ element. Strontium is a trace element but its content in the human body is quite large, about 320-500 mg (ICRP 23, 1975; Staub et al., 2003 ). About 99% of the total strontium body burden is localized in the skeleton (Staub et al., 2003; Cabrera et al., 1999). The concentration of strontium in food varies in a wide range: In meat, vegetables and fruit the concentration of strontium may vary from 0.3 to 5.1 mg/kg; in grain and seafood – up to 25 mg/kg. Content of strontium in individual diet varies depending on the geographic area and dietary preferences (Cabrera et al., 1999; Tandon et al., 1998). Experiments with rats and guinea pigs showed that at very low strontium content in their diet a defective mineralization of bones and teeth occurred suggesting that strontium is a necessary element for normal development (DNC 2008). On the other hand, excess of strontium and barium at simultaneous deficiency of calcium in the diet result in defects of bone mineralization, deformation of joints and even strontium rickets in children and adolescents. These symptoms (Kashin-Bek disease or endemic osteoarthritis, strontium rickets) are observed in some geochemical provinces in China, Central Siberia and foothills of the Pamirs (Tajikistan). It is important to note that there is discrimination between strontium and calcium resulting in less intensive transfer of strontium, relative to calcium, through biological barriers: gastrointestinal tract, placenta or breast alveoli (Wasserman 1998).
You can see more information in:
http://www.denvernaturopathic.com/news/strontiumone.html
Staub, J.F., Foos, E., Courtin, B., Jochemsen, R., Perault-Staub, A.M. (2003) A nonlinear compartmental model of Sr metabolism. II. Its physiological relevance for Ca metabolism. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol, 284, 835–852.
Staub, JF; Foos, E.; Courtin, B.; Jochemsen, R.; Perault-Staub, A.M. (2003). A nonlinear compartmental model of Sr metabolism. I. Non-steady-state kinetics and model building. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol, 284(3), 819– 834
Cabrera, W.E.; Schrooten, I.; De Broe, M.E.; Haese, P.C.D. (1999) Strontium and bone J Bone Miner Res, 14(5), 661-668.
I am not really clear about discrimination of calcium over strontium. May you help me please? I've read that these ions are some similarities in their biology function and have many properties in common. I don't understand why the author used the word discrimination.
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