BRONJ

 

• Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) is a serious complication affecting patients taking osteoporosis and cancer medications like Fosamax, Boniva, and Zometa, and once the jaw bone dies, there is currently no effective treatment
• Bisphosphonates work by the same mechanism as statins — they inhibit the mevalonate pathway — which means they cause the same depletion of geranylgeraniol (GG) that leads to statin muscle problems
• Research shows that GG can reverse the negative effects of bisphosphonates on osteoblasts (bone-building cells), osteoclasts (bone-remodeling cells), fibroblasts, and endothelial cells — the key cell types involved in jaw bone health and healing
• A 2024 study demonstrated that GG incorporated into bone cement promoted osteoclast function and healing in an animal model of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw
• Anyone taking bisphosphonates for osteoporosis or cancer treatment should consider GG supplementation as a preventive measure, especially before dental procedures