Some people have read scary headlines about strontium and worry it could cause heart problems or blood clots. But here’s the truth: those warnings come from a drug called strontium ranelate. Not the natural mineral we use.

The Source of the Confusion

- Strontium ranelate was a synthetic prescription drug used in Europe for osteoporosis.

- Early studies showed impressive bone density gains, but later trials revealed a small increase in heart attacks, strokes, and blood clots.

- Regulators restricted its use in 2014, and it was eventually pulled from the market in 2017.

- These events, and the media coverage around them, created the myth that all strontium is unsafe.

The Form We Use: Strontium Citrate

- Strontium citrate is completely different.

- It’s a natural mineral salt—strontium is already found in small amounts in vegetables like broccoli, carrots, and potatoes, and “citrate” is a natural agricultural product.

- This is the form used in Strontium Boost, and it has been studied for years with no cardiovascular risks.

- In one 7-year study published in The Journal of the American College of Nutrition, people taking strontium citrate with a plant-based calcium supplement gained bone density every year with no safety concerns on blood tests.

Bottom Line

Strontium ranelate (the drug) and strontium citrate (the mineral) may sound alike, but they couldn’t be more different.

- Strontium ranelate = synthetic drug, linked to heart risks, no longer on the market.

- Strontium citrate = natural mineral, clinically supported to safely support bone density.

When you see the name Strontium Boost, you can be confident it contains strontium citrate only—no drug ingredients and no ranelate.

Yes and no. Strontium acts a lot like calcium. So your body will naturally use some of it when building new bone. Over time, about 1 in every 10 calcium ions in your bones can be filled by strontium instead.

Here’s why that matters: strontium is heavier than calcium. A DEXA scan measures mineral weight to estimate bone density, so the extra weight of strontium can make the scan look about 8–11% higher than the true calcium content.

But that doesn’t mean the gains are fake. So if your scan shows a 10% increase, the “strontium effect” might account for a few percent of that overall increase. But that doesn’t change the fact that you’re still increasing bone density. Think of it this way: if your DEXA scan shows a 10% increase, and you adjust for the 8–11% overstatement caused by strontium’s weight, you’re still left with a real improvement of roughly 9%.

So yes, the numbers may be slightly inflated. But your bones are still getting stronger. And that’s exactly what you want.

Yes. Strontium actively builds stronger bones and clinical studies support it.

When you take Strontium Boost, it supports bone in two key ways:

1. Stimulates bone-building cells (osteoblasts) 

2. Slows bone-breaking cells (osteoclasts)

This double action—more building, less breakdown—means you build more bone in less time.

In human clinical studies, participants taking AlgaeCal Plus alone increased bone density by an average of 1.3% per year. However, when AlgaeCal Plus was combined with Strontium Boost, bone density increased by an average of 3% per year. 

And the best part? Many study participants saw these increases in as little as six months.