With a mission of exploring the full human potential for bone health development, maintenance, and regeneration, Dr. Susan Brown has been very busy researching nutrition and lifestyle influences on bone. Current research ranges from clinical pilot studies of promising nutrient therapies to secondary research, data collection, and analysis.

Dr. Brown's completed research projects include:

CLINICAL PILOT STUDIES

Young Bones.™  As detailed in her book, Better Bones, Better Body, Dr. Susan Brown is convinced that traditional Chinese medicine offers us a profound understanding of bone loss processes and the mechanics of bone health maintenance. In this research pilot study she had the opportunity to look at a promising 1,000-year-old traditional Chinese herbal bone health formula. This research project consisted of a three-month pilot study that looked at the impact of this traditional herbal formula on symptoms of menopause and aging, and bone breakdown. Young Bones™ was found to be a powerful kidney-enhancing, anti-aging formula. For details please read our study report, Pilot Clinical Study of Dietary Supplement, Young Bones™ (A Traditional Chinese Herbal Formula) for Improvement of Aging, Including Bone Mineral Loss, Pain, Mobility, and Nocturnal Polyuria in Women. Young Bones™ is a traditional Chinese herbal product distributed in the US by Natural Bio-Care. For manufacturer information on this and other Chinese herbal products they distribute see http://www.naturalbiocare.com/.

Cal-Vantage.  Pilot Clinical Study Assessing the Impact on Bone Resorption of the dietary supplement Cal-Vantage™. This pilot study involved a three-month clinical trial assessing the bone-building potential of Cal-Vantage™— a unique vitamin/mineral and herbal formula. The endpoints for this study were bone resorption at 6 and 12 weeks, blood pressure, and weight. The results of this pilot study showed Cal-Vantage™ to be a promising bone building agent, the use of which was also associated with positive changes in weight and blood pressure. Dr. Brown found these results promising and extended this study for 1 year to look at the impact of Cal-Vantage™ on bone mineral density in post-menopausal women. For details please read the study report, Pilot Clinical Study Assessing the Impact on Bone Resorption and Bone Mineral Density of the Dietary Supplement Cal-Vantage™.

OsteOrganiCAL.  Dr. Susan E. Brown conducted two research projects with the bone product known as "OsteOrganiCAL" produced by Natural Options Corp. The first was a series of case studies, and the second, a one-year pilot clinical study on bone density.

• Case Studies. In 1997 the product known as OsteOrganiCAL was brought to our attention. Dr. Brown was presented with dozens of  "before and after" bone density measurements which suggested that OsteOrganiCAL was indeed capable of halting bone loss and even rebuilding a significant amount of bone. Intrigued by these results Dr. Brown agreed to review a series of OsteOrganiCAL cases, checking to validate their accuracy. The following is our report called OsteOrganiCAL Case Study Analysis.
• One-Year Pilot Clinical Study.  Intrigued by the very impressive bone density improvements found in the case studies, Dr. Brown entered into collaboration with Natural Options Corp. for a clinical pilot trial.  In the fall of 2003, Dr. Brown and her staff at The Osteoporosis Education Project completed a year-long pilot study with the sea algae calcium and vitamin D product known as "OsteOrganiCAL." The study included eleven postmenopausal women, six of whom experienced impressive gains in bone mineral density from use of the product. For our full study report you are referred to: OsteOrganiCAL Pilot Study Final Report.

Advacal.  In this pilot study, Dr. Brown looked at a promising Japanese calcium formula. The product, sold in the US as "Advacal," was shown capable of enhancing bone density in osteoporotic women in several Japanese studies. The study looked at the impact of Advacal on bone resorption, parathyroid hormone, and first-morning urine pH amongst North American postmenopausal women. To read the full report of this study, please download the PDF file: A Pilot Study Comparing Advacal (AAACA) and Calcium Citrate Supplementation in Menopausal U.S. Women.

IPRIFLAVONE REPORT & USE GUIDELINES

Between 1998-2001, Dr. Susan Brown worked with Technical Sourcing International of Missoula, Montana, to research the efficacy and safety of the synthetic flavonoid know as ipriflavone, trade name "Ostivone." During that time she developed a comprehensive database on all available English language studies on ipriflavone. Dr. Brown also completed her own analysis of ipriflavone. This analysis includes an introduction to flavonoids, a history and background of ipriflavone, a discussion of its efficacy, the safety concerns with its use, and a summary of the 2000 European Multi-Centered Clinical Trial using ipriflavone. Those using ipriflavone or thinking of using it are referred to our report on Ipriflavone and the Italian Guidelines for its use.

NTx POINT-OF-CARE DEVICE

In February 2001, The Osteoporosis Education Project served as one of four nationwide test sites for a clinical trial evaluating the Osteomark NTx Point-o f-Care Device. The object of this clinical trial was to see if the NTx measurement device could be self-administered at home. This study was done in compliance with FDA requirements. Principal investigators were Nancy Mallinak, Ph.D. and Susan E. Brown, Ph.D., CNS. This study led to the approval of this device by the FDA.

ACID / ALKALINE STUDIES

Dr. Susan Brown and The Osteoporosis Education Project consider the link between bone health and systemic acid/alkaline balance to be one of critical importance.  In fact, it is our opinion that chronic low-grade metabolic acidosis is one of the major hidden causes of osteoporosis.

• In Dr. Brown's book, Better Bones, Better Body, two full chapters are dedicated to acid/alkaline balance and bone and to the development of an “Alkaline for Life Diet.”  
• Dr. Brown and Dr. Russell Jaffe present the scientific data on acidosis and bone in their scholarly article “Acid-Alkaline Balance and Its Effects on Bone Health.”

In addition, Dr. Brown has written an entire book dedicated to clarifying the overall importance of proper acid/alkaline body chemistry balance.   This book, The Acid-Alkaline Food Guide (Square One Publishers, 2006), provides the lay public with a detailed, yet understandable, discussion of chronic low-grade metabolic acidosis.  Further, this book offers the first comprehensive listing of the relative acid or alkalizing impact of all major foods.

In addition to writing and educational efforts, Dr. Susan Brown and The Osteoporosis Education Project also conduct original research on pH balance and bone. Our first piece of original research focused on the value of first-morning urine pH measurements and was entitled, “First Morning Urine pH Correlation with Acid Load.”

The second piece of original research documented the value of metabolic alkaline supplements for those suffering from interstitial cystitis. This research report was entitled, “Excessive Acidity May Aggravate Urinary Disorders: A Novel Therapy for Interstitial Cystitis.”

Dr. Susan Brown and the nonprofit Osteoporosis Education Project actively solicit collaboration and exchange with other like-minded individuals and organizations concerned with the practical health implications of chronic low-grade metabolic acidosis.