A Functional Medicine Approach To Osteoporosis

We have been led to believe that drinking milk is the key to bone health. Unfortunately, the prevailing myth that drinking milk as children builds up a calcium bank that helps us avoid osteoporosis and fracture later in life is simply not true. Our bone health is determined by a number of things including what we eat, our stress and activity levels, our muscle mass, and other factors that contribute to the delicate balance between bone build-up and bone breakdown. Unfortunately, osteoporosis is a very common and life-threatening problem, it is also highly underdiagnosed. This is part of the reason why prevention is so important when it comes to osteoporosis.

In this episode, Dr. Hyman sits down with Dr. Todd LePine to discuss the Functional Medicine approach to osteoporosis. They get into how chronic inflammation acts as one of the main drivers of osteoporosis, why both bone density and quality are so important, and much more.

Dr. LePine graduated from Dartmouth Medical School and is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, specializing in Integrative Functional Medicine. He is an Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner. Prior to joining The UltraWellness Center, he worked as a physician at Canyon Ranch in Lenox, MA, for 10 years. Dr. LePine’s focus at The UltraWellness Center is to help his patients achieve optimal health and vitality by restoring the natural balance to both the mind and the body. His areas of interest include optimal aging, bio-detoxification, functional gastrointestinal health, systemic inflammation, autoimmune disorders and the neurobiology of mood and cognitive disorders. Dr. LePine teaches around the world, and has given lectures to doctors and patients at American College for Advancement in Medicine (ACAM), Age Management Medicine Group (AMMG), the University of Miami Integrative Medicine Conference, The Kripalu Center in Lenox, MA, and is on the faculty for American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M). Dr. LePine is the head of the Scientific Advisory Board for Designs for Health and a consultant for Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory. He enjoys skiing, kayaking, hiking, camping and golfing in the beautiful Berkshires, and is a fitness enthusiast.

This episode is sponsored by ButcherBox and Dr. Hyman’s Sleep Master Class.

[kindalikeu.....]

Dr mark/ please, please let this man talk!!!!. Thank you🙏

[bodhiSwaha]

I agree that you over spoke stopping your guest from fully sharing.

[marysmith]

I'm convinced that all the calcium they have been telling people to take has contributed to dementia and heart issues. That, and some of the other medications. My mom did everything right. She took long walks with friends every day, cooked, cleaned, played cards, sewing club, and ate pretty much a Mediterranean diet as we are Italian. She also experienced chronic lower back pain that was debilitating, then dementia. No family history of any of this. I have recently read that some blood pressure drugs have the potential for all these side effects. With all the doctors she saw, NOT ONE, thought of switching out her meds. But some, although rare, do. I learned this too late. Doctors still do not believe that K2 redirects calcium, and they still prescribe a ton of calcium without it.

Going through this journey with my mom, then more recently during COVID with both parents, I can truly say that I have lost complete faith in our medical system, and that includes the doctors. I have found them to be puppets. Relying only on what they were taught in school, and lacking any kind of critical thinking. Anyone with good recall can be a doctor, but how great it would be to be able to see if your doctor possesses true passion for healing? That should still be number one. And that is what has been lost.

[chrisstone]

I agree. You’ve invited learned guests and then you talk over them.

[Kim-ekxy]

My husband drinks gallons of milk every week and he has the worst osteoporosis. He was shocked by his diagnosis when he developed compression fractures in his spine. It has been devastating to his quality of life (and mine). Milk does not do a body good unless you are a calf.

[marial.]

I will be 75 next month. At 50 I had my first DEXA and had osteopenia & some osteoporosis; the doctors instantly gave me a prescription for Foxamax. They scared me & said at 60 I would be hunched over & have weak bones. I never took the drugs & read every book on the subject. I have ALWAYS eaten a very healthy diet, never smoked & always exercised. I walk, bicycle, ski, do yoga & lift weights for years. I weigh only 99 lbs. I have had a few DEXA test throughout the years & I feel my bones are strong yet the density doesn't show that. I put off having DEXA test because doctors keep pushing the Drugs!! I am curious though so may have one to see if my numbers are better. I feel terrific & do take a plant based calcium & collagen. So many people are misinformed. It's wonderful that these doctors are spreading the word out. Thank you so much! Stay well everyone:)

[sonflower]

I got osteoporosis 3 years ago after having osteopenia for 10 years. I have a sedentary lifestyle at age 60. Thank you doctors for sharing this video! I had no idea how serious this is.

[sonniquickpianoimprov]

I have below the chart osteoporosis. 12 years ago I had a liver transplant because of cirrhosis caused by hep C. I had a dexiscan when I was put on the transplant list and was told I had osteoporosis. I was on so many meds, something like fosamax as was out of the question. I had 7 teeth pulled they were afraid could get infected when I had to take immune suppressants. I had my first stress fracture in the hospital for an infection a few weeks after the transplant. A back brace over healing staples wasn't fun.Since then I have broken both wrists, at different times, my elbow is wrapped in titanium with 13 screws. I had a shoulder replacement and 18 months ago I broke one leg right under the hip from a light fall. I haven't been able to walk unaided since.I recently graduated from a wheel chair to a rollator/transport chair which I love. It forces me to walk, painfully.

So what have I done about it? I have studied food for 40 years. I am 69. I was body building at the gym when I started learning. When I started getting symptoms from the hep C in 1986 I didnt know why I was sick. In 1998 I got a diagnosis. I started researching everything I needed to know about food and supplements for better digestive, too. Today I eat organic lettuce and veggies for breakfast. From my last dexiscan to one I just had, my bone health was 16% better. I liked what I heard in this video. I learned new things. Life has been a struggle since the transplant but I'm still here!

[rf]

This came up on my YouTube feed and I really want to watch it all the way through and I usually love Dr Hyman but I am so frustrated. He has this wonderful expert on and he keeps interrupting and telling us all the things that he should let the expert tell us. Dr. Hyman, we know that you know the information. But let us hear it from the perspective of your expert! Thanks for your wonderful channel and all you do.

[darlenewedra]

I have been listening to Dr. Hamon’s podcast for months now, and I’m totally blown away by the information that he has put out there. He has had on a lot of issues that I’m dealing with and I’m going to try to get in touch with his facility for help thank you Dr. Hyman for putting this out there, since regular doctors just want to throw drugs at you.

[bettinazwerdling]

Don't need the 'vanity thy name is woman' comment! Astounding comment, beyond insensitive -- and clueless. Think men who still rule in and are the destroyers in much of the world have any vanity at all?
The rest of this is very helpful. Thank you for covering this topic.

[silversurfer]

It's always a good idea to let your guests speak.

[rosenolan]

Great podcast thank you . Osteoporosis is reversible, you just need to follow advice given by
the two Docs. My Professor gave the same advise and I am forever grateful.

[vallang]

I totally agree with inflammation. I finally found a great functional doctor that calmed my chronic inflammation I had leaky gut. But to late I have osteoporosis. Now I have to find a way naturally to get my bone built back.

[AndreaRachel]

I had Whipple surgery for Pancreatic Cancer in 2014. They took out the head of my pancreas, my small intestine and half my stomach out. I now have to take Creon (made from pig pancreas) in order to get any nutrition from my food. I already had osteopenia at that time. Nine years later, after having a year and a half of Forteo shots daily, my bone density came back even worse than before. I've been in a quandry as to what to do to help my bones as supplements don't help. Thanks for putting me on a better path to stronger bones.

[janebowman]

Dr Hyman does not let his guest speak!

[anaabendroth]

RETIREMENT was the start of my downfall. I became sedentary. I was doing crafts to keep us in the black. I was in front of the computer around the clock. I was under a great deal of stress. I stopped teaching dance. I was doing all things that were the perfect storm for developing osteoporosis. Now I need to get moving, get the right supplements and eat mindfully to try to reverse this. I am terrified.

[suzihazlove]

I have CFS, POTS, low pulse and blood pressure , started 20 yrs ago . They told Me to eat more salt. Omg fasT forward 15 yrs. Chronic acid reflux and OSTEOPOROSIS. 🥺 I cannot handle the drugs. I've been just doing light workouts. I know I have chronic inflamation. So I HAVE to address this to save MY LIFE!
TY🙏

[suebostock]

This is fantastic information on a really complex condition which potentially effects us all! I am so grateful for these leads on how to improve my osteopenia and feel so fortunate to have found out that it was an issue before it progresses to osteoporosis!

[blissfulbaboon]

Thank you for this interesting and relevant discussion
Osteoporosis is rampant in our society and not clearly understood and the drugs that are sold to the public ought to be banned they are so ineffective and dangerous.