OSTEO GUARD WITH IPRIFLAVONE
REPLACES ORTHO - BONE
Osteo-guard® Plus Ipriflavone, provided by Douglas
Laboratories®, combines ipriflavone, a flavonoid isoflavone,
with calcium from microcrystalline calcium hydroxyapatite
compound (MCHC) prepared from whole bone, and
magnesium from a patented, nutritionally functional amino
acid chelate (Albion Labs) with excellent bioavailability.
Osteo-guard Plus Ipriflavone also provides phosphorus (as
microcrystalline hydroxyapatite), trace minerals, bone
matrix proteins, amino acids, and glycosaminoglycans in
their natural forms and physiological ratios.
FUNCTIONS
Numerous studies of postmenopausal women and individuals
whose bones are showing signs of demineralization have
investigated the benefits of Ipriflavone on bone health.
Laboratory and clinical studies have documented ipriflavone’s
positive effect on bone density.
Experts agree that ipriflavone appears to directly inhibit osteoclast
activity, thereby decreasing bone resorption. Osteoclasts and
osteoblasts are the two primary types of bone cells. Osteoblasts,
the more exterior cells, are responsible for bone mineralization.
Osteoclasts, found beneath the osteoblasts, are responsible for
bone resorption. When calcium levels in the blood drop, the
osteoblasts change shape, allowing the osteoclasts to become
exposed and release calcium from the bones to the rest of the
body.
Scientists suspect ipriflavone may also stimulate osteoblast
activity. As osteoblasts are responsible for laying down new
bone, an increase in osteoblast activity would result in increased
bone mineralization. This suggests ipriflavone may not only
inhibit the breakdown of existing bone, but also encourage the
formation of new bone.
Bone is constantly turning over in a continuous process of
formation and resorption. During certain stages of life, the
balance between bone mineralization and resorption may be
tipped. During childhood and adolescence, while the body is
growing, bone mineralization generally exceeds bone resorption.
Once one reaches peak bone mass, sometime between the age of
20 and 30, bone formation often declines. For many, bone
resorption begins to prevail over bone formation, beginning the
cycle of progressive, age-associated bone demineralization.
In women, bone loss is generally accelerated following
menopause. The decline in estrogen levels associated with
menopause appears to put women at increased risk for declining
bone density and osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis affects a large proportion of postmenopausal
women and the elderly in developed countries. For some
women, exogenous hormones provide some continued
protection against accelerated, progressive, postmenopausal
bone loss. Currently, there are few effective options for those
women who are unable to, or choose not to take hormone
replacement therapy (HRT).
It is generally accepted that obtaining enough dietary calcium
throughout life can significantly decrease the risk of developing
osteoporosis. Among other factors, such as regular exercise,
gender and race, calcium supplementation during childhood and
adolescence appears to be a prerequisite for maintaining
adequate bone density later in life. But even elderly,
osteoporotic patients can benefit significantly from
supplementation with dietary calcium.
Ipriflavone, together with adequate calcium, vitamin D, and other
key nutrients in bone health, offers non-estrogenic protection
against excessive bone resorption. Unlike other well-known
isoflavones, such as genistein found in soy foods, ipriflavone
does not have estrogenic activity. Ipriflavone can be safely used
in conjunction with natural phytoestrogens or with HRT. Further,
ipriflavone provides a positive effect on bone health in women
for whom hormone therapies are contraindicated.
Both vitamin K and boron appear to have important roles bone
metabolism. Vitamin K1-dependent proteins appear to have
important regulatory functions in calcium metabolism and bone
mineralization. Boron affects the composition, structure, and
strength of bone. It also appears to affect calcium and
magnesium absorption and excretion.
