The bad news for bisphosphonate bone drugs just keeps on coming. The issue of commonly used bisphosphonates like Fosamax causing atrial fibrillation has been hotly debated for over a year. The latest study presented this week at the 74th annual international scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) presented a review of existing data that "showed that 2.5 to 3 percent of patients taking bisphosphonates experienced atrial fibrillation and 1 to 2 percent experienced serious AF, including hospitalization or death. Patients taking bisphosphonates were more likely to experience AF than patients receiving placebo and up to two times more likely to experience serious AF than patients receiving placebo."

The FDA promised on its website in October of 2007 to have a report out by now on the risks of atrial fibrillation associated with bisphosphonates. Certainly, the FDA has the same data that was presented at this recent conference. What is taking the FDA so long? Are they bailing out the bisphosphonate drug market, as patent protection on many of the best-selling brands expires?

This is not a trivial problem. The 8 billion-dollar-a-year bone drug market still relies on bisphosphonates for the lion's share of sales. 44 million Americans (80% women) are in the Big Pharma crosshairs. Last year 55 million prescriptions were written for bisphosphonates, though many were not filled or continued (as lots of women have become aware of multiple severe risks). The exact number of women who have been brainwashed into taking these poisons is unknown, but it is in the millions.

Conservatively estimating, the new report means that 100,000 to 200,000 women are seriously injured or killed by bisphosphonate caused atrial fibrillation every year. This is an atrocity.

The fact that these bone drugs are a scam, on top of the amount of damage they are causing from this one side effect alone, should have prescribing physicians, drug company executives, and FDA management walking a plank. There is simply no excuse for this crime against our elderly citizens.

Needless to say, there are many safe and effective natural options to help improve bone, ranging from high quality calcium, to adequate vitamin D (up to 2000 IU per day in the winter), and nutrients that reduce inflammation in bone and actually help address the source of the bone loss problem.