Everyday Wellness: Midlife Hormones, Menopause, and Science for Women 35+

Ep. 543 Osteoporosis Is Reversible – The Best Treatments You’re Not Hearing About with Dr. Doug Lucas | Menopause & Bone Health

Jan 17, 2026

Dr. Doug Lucas, a double board-certified orthopedic surgeon and osteoporosis specialist, shares his mission to make osteoporosis preventable and reversible. He discusses personalized supplement strategies, emphasizing nutrition's foundational role. Listeners learn about the risks of long-term drug therapies and the importance of biomarker testing. Doug also explores innovative treatments, osteogenic loading, and debunks common myths about bone health, asserting that osteoporosis can indeed be reversed with targeted lifestyle changes.

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ADVICE

Ask For A Long-Term Bone Plan

Ask your doctor for a clear long-term plan before starting bisphosphonates or Prolia.
Continue lifestyle, nutrition, and exercise work while on drugs and plan when to stop them with your clinician.

INSIGHT

How Bisphosphonates Affect Bone Metabolism

Bisphosphonates work by shutting down osteoclasts which suppresses overall bone metabolism.
Suppressing turnover raises short-term BMD but risks loss when the drug is stopped if underlying causes aren't addressed.

ADVICE

Use Anabolics Strategically And Briefly

Consider anabolic drugs (Forteo, Tymlos) for short, targeted use to stimulate osteoblast activity.
Use anabolics together with HRT, exercise, and nutrition, but limit duration to recommended months.

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I’m delighted to welcome Dr. Doug Lucas today for the second episode of a two-part masterclass on bone health. He is double board-certified as both an orthopedic surgeon and an osteoporosis specialist, and he is on a mission to prove to the world that osteoporosis is both preventable and reversible.

We continue our conversation, discussing bone health issues and diving into standards of care for osteopenia and osteoporosis. Dr. Doug unpacks the impact of drug therapies, from bisphosphonates to anabolics and lifestyle factors. We cover atypical fractures, mandibular necrosis, the challenges of hypermobility, and ways to support stability and training. Dr. Doug also breaks down osteogenic loading and training, clarifies why supplements are only as effective as your nutrition, and debunks common myths around bone health, mobility, and strength training.

You will not want to miss this valuable and informative masterclass with Dr. Doug Lucas. It is jam-packed with helpful insights, so you will likely want to listen to it more than once.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

The importance of personalizing supplements
Why it’s essential to check your biomarkers before supplementing
The specific minerals and vitamins that are important for bone health
Why supplements should never replace foundational nutrition and lifestyle work
How boron and fat-soluble vitamins benefit bone health
The importance of personalizing your supplement plan
How targeted testing and fewer supplements can yield better results
How osteoporosis can improve and, in many cases, be reversed
How peptides and GLP-1s impact bone health and muscle preservation
The role of lifestyle, nutrition, and exercise in bone health

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