New Drug, New Risk

 Today it was announced that the FDA approved this new genetically engineered drug for osteoporosis.  AMGEN is certainly looking forward to it being a "blockbuster" and generator for big profit.

My hope is that it is a wake-up to women who need to have much better information about what they can do to prevent and treat bone loss issues in a more natural and nutritional way.

Vitamin D is certainly important, some use of calcium supplementation (natural sources are better like horsetail, nettle, etc), better overall nutritional support, avoiding calcium-depleting soy, weight bearing exercise, adequate hydration, and customized natural care.

Denosumab is known to cause significant suppression of bone turnover and this suppression may contribute to the occurrence of osteonecrosis of the jaw, a factor that raised concern at an FDA advisory panel last August.

Other common side effects reported with denosumab include back pain, pain in the extremities, musculoskeletal pain, high cholesterol levels, and urinary bladder infections.

Serious adverse reactions include hypocalcemia, serious infections, including infections of the skin, and dermatologic reactions such as dermatitis, rashes, and eczema. from MedPage Today

Immune suppression for osteoporosis?  one of 32 posts regarding osteoporosis found on Natural Health News
Prolia application info

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Endocrinology/Osteoporosis/20432?utm_content=GroupCL&utm_medium=email&impressionId=1275544771411&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=mSpoke&userid=68851

Peanut Allergy Linked to Skin Creams, Soymilk

from a six year old report on peanut allergy -
By: Anna Soref, April 01, 2003

Peanut allergies in infants and young children may be related to soy-based foods and peanut oil-based skin creams, according to a study published in the March 13 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.

Of the 49 children in the study who developed peanut allergies, 84 percent had used peanut oil-based creams and a quarter had consumed soymilk in their first two years. "I think that based on these findings, many of us in practice will ask families not to use peanut-based products, whether they be in creams, peanut butter or candy, until children do get somewhat older," said Brian Smart, M.D., a spokesman for the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology in Milwaukee.

The researchers are hoping to learn why the number of children with peanut allergies has tripled in the past decade. About 1.5 million Americans are allergic to peanuts and 50 to 100 people die from the allergy each year. Similar results in future studies could pave the way for new strategies for handling peanut allergies, the researchers said.

Smart pointed out, though, that most people who think they have food allergies actually do not. "It's important for those who believe they have food allergies to see an expert because chances are they can eat a much broader diet than they think," he said.

In the same issue, NEJM also published a study on a new drug that is the first to offer protection for those who suffer from severe peanut allergies. A single dose of the drug TNX-901 increased the threshold of sensitivity from one to nine peanuts—enough to thwart accidental peanut ingestion, the researchers hope.

"We believe this will be a wonderful tool, but it will probably be a couple of years or longer until it will be on the market because we need more safety data," Smart said.