Researchers in Germany gave a group of men strontium ranelate. After 12 months the men who had taken strontium ranelate had a 22-23% greater increase in bone mass density in the lumbar spine and hip. They also had 30% fewer fractures and significantly greater reduction in back pain.
While strontium ranelate is sold as a drug in 70 countries around the world; the FDA has not approved it here. Your option in this country is to take strontium citrate which has a similar effect and can be purchased without a prescription.
(Reported Whitaker Newsletter April 2011)