Strontium
Mineral ·Exploratory record · not publication-reviewed ·Updated July 13, 2026
Trace element that supports bone density by stimulating osteoblasts and inhibiting osteoclasts.
Exploratory record, not a reviewed medical publication.
See the editorial and medical-review policies for the publication gate.
This generated database record has not completed a claim-level review by a qualified human medical reviewer. Bibliography links and evidence labels are not approval. The page remains available for reference and is excluded from search indexing.
What the research says.
A quick, data-only summary. The full evidence, dosing, and sources are below.
Strontium is a mineral most often used for bone density, osteoporosis support. NutriStack rates the overall evidence as moderate. A typical adult dose is 680 mg strontium citrate daily, commonly taken as strontium citrate (not strontium ranelate, prescription). This profile indexes 17 sources.
The bottom line
Evidence rating moderate. Most-documented uses: bone density, osteoporosis support. 17 sources indexed (2003–2024), with 0 interaction records on file.
How it works, mechanistically.
Core mechanism
Activates calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) on osteoblasts, stimulating bone formation. Also inhibits osteoclast differentiation via OPG/RANKL pathway. Dual mechanism unique among bone supplements.5
Dosing & protocol.
Take at bedtime, SEPARATE from calcium by 4+ hours (competes for absorption)17
What it actually costs.
Real-world pricing across three quality tiers. Assumes Strontium Citrate.
Weak estimate: assumes 680 mg strontium citrate/day and excludes prescription strontium ranelate. Vendor basis: iHerb, Vitacost, Amazon marketplace, and specialty mineral brands. Updated 2026-05-28.
The same dose, as food.
How much you'd eat to match a supplemental dose.
A practical food equivalent for supplement-dose strontium does not exist.
Full safety detail.
Side effects
- GI upset
- Headache
- DRESS syndrome and severe skin reactions reported with strontium ranelate
- May falsely elevate DXA bone density readings because strontium attenuates X-rays more than calcium
- Cardiovascular risk concerns reported for strontium ranelate
Sources, by evidence tier.
Numbered references. Citations throughout the page link here.
Randomized controlled trials
3- 1Long-term treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis with strontium ranelate: results at 8 yearsPMIDReginster JY et al. · Bone · 2009
Over 8 years of treatment, cumulative fracture incidences during years 6-8 were not different from the first 3 years, demonstrating sustained benefit.
- 2Strontium ranelate reduces the risk of vertebral fractures in patients with osteopeniaPMIDSeeman E et al. · J Bone Miner Res · 2008
Strontium ranelate reduced vertebral fracture risk in osteopenic women from the SOTI and TROPOS trials over 3 years of treatment.
- 3Strontium ranelate reduces the risk of nonvertebral fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis: Treatment of Peripheral Osteoporosis (TROPOS) studyPMIDReginster JY et al. · J Clin Endocrinol Metab · 2005
Strontium ranelate reduced risk of all nonvertebral fractures by 16% and major fragility fractures by 19% in postmenopausal osteoporotic women.
Reviews & position papers
11- 4Role of Calcitonin and Strontium Ranelate in OsteoporosisPMIDGhani A, Arfee S · Indian journal of orthopaedics · 2023
Ghani A, Arfee S. Role of Calcitonin and Strontium Ranelate in Osteoporosis. Indian journal of orthopaedics. 2023
- 5Cardiovascular safety of calcium, magnesium and strontium: what does the evidence say?PMIDCurtis EM, Cooper C, Harvey NC · Aging clinical and experimental research · 2021
Curtis EM, Cooper C, Harvey NC. Cardiovascular safety of calcium, magnesium and strontium: what does the evidence say?. Aging clinical and experimental research. 2021
- 6Cardiac concerns associated with strontium ranelatePMIDBolland MJ et al. · Expert Opin Drug Saf · 2014
RCT data indicate higher incidence of non-adjudicated MI with strontium ranelate vs placebo (1.7 vs 1.1%); now contraindicated in patients with cardiovascular history.
- 7Strontium ranelate: in search for the mechanism of actionPMIDStepan JJ · Journal of bone and mineral metabolism · 2013
Stepan JJ. Strontium ranelate: in search for the mechanism of action. Journal of bone and mineral metabolism. 2013
- 8Strontium ranelate: a review of its use in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosisPMIDDeeks ED, Dhillon S · Drugs · 2010
Deeks ED, Dhillon S. Strontium ranelate: a review of its use in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Drugs. 2010
- 9Strontium ranelate: the first agent of a new therapeutic class in osteoporosisPMIDNeuprez A, Hiligsmann M, Scholtissen S et al. · Advances in therapy · 2008
Neuprez A, Hiligsmann M, Scholtissen S et al.. Strontium ranelate: the first agent of a new therapeutic class in osteoporosis. Advances in therapy. 2008
- 10A review of strontium ranelate and its effect on DXA scansPMIDBlake GM, Lewiecki EM, Kendler DL et al. · Journal of clinical densitometry : the official journal of the International Society for Clinical Densitometry · 2007
Blake GM, Lewiecki EM, Kendler DL et al.. A review of strontium ranelate and its effect on DXA scans. Journal of clinical densitometry : the official journal of the International Society for Clinical Densitometry. 2007
- 11Strontium ranelate: a novel treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis: a review of safety and efficacyPMIDBlake GM, Fogelman I · Clinical interventions in aging · 2006
Blake GM, Fogelman I. Strontium ranelate: a novel treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis: a review of safety and efficacy. Clinical interventions in aging. 2006
- 12Strontium ranelate: the first dual acting treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosisPMIDBurlet N, Reginster JY · Clinical orthopaedics and related research · 2006
Burlet N, Reginster JY. Strontium ranelate: the first dual acting treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis. Clinical orthopaedics and related research. 2006
- 13Strontium ranelate: a dual mode of action rebalancing bone turnover in favour of bone formationSource linkedPMIDMarie PJ · Curr Opin Rheumatol · 2006
- 14Optimizing bone metabolism in osteoporosis: insight into the pharmacologic profile of strontium ranelatePMIDReginster JY et al. · Osteoporos Int · 2003
Strontium ranelate is the first antiosteoporotic treatment with dual mode of action, simultaneously increasing bone formation while decreasing bone resorption.
Observational studies
1- 15Strontium ranelate-induced DRESS syndrome: first two case reportsPMIDJonville-Bera AP, Crickx B, Aaron L et al. · Allergy · 2009
Case reports describe DRESS syndrome during strontium ranelate treatment.
Mechanistic & preclinical
1- 16Influence of Various Strontium Formulations (Ranelate, Citrate, and Chloride) on Bone Mineral Density, Morphology, and Microarchitecture: A Comparative Study in an Ovariectomized Female Mouse Model of OsteoporosisPMIDWornham DP et al. · Nutrients · 2024
Strontium administration increased bone tissue mineral density across all forms; strontium citrate exhibited the weakest effect compared to ranelate and chloride.
Common questions.
Quick answers about Strontium, drawn from the data on this page.
What is Strontium?
Trace element that supports bone density by stimulating osteoblasts and inhibiting osteoclasts.
What is Strontium used for?
Commonly cited benefits of Strontium include: Bone density; Osteoporosis support. NutriStack rates the overall evidence as moderate.
What is a typical dose of Strontium?
A typical adult dose of Strontium is 680 mg strontium citrate daily. The commonly recommended form is Strontium citrate (NOT strontium ranelate, prescription). These are general ranges, not personalized advice; confirm the right dose with a clinician.
What are the side effects of Strontium?
Reported side effects include gi upset, headache, dress syndrome and severe skin reactions reported with strontium ranelate, may falsely elevate dxa bone density readings because strontium attenuates x-rays more than calcium, cardiovascular risk concerns reported for strontium ranelate. This is educational information; check with a healthcare professional before use.
How strong is the evidence for Strontium?
NutriStack rates this as Moderate, meaning several aligned RCTs or one large RCT plus supporting reviews. Full tier criteria are at https://nutristackapp.com/methodology/evidence-tiers.
Use this with your stack
Strontium in NutriStack.
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