What if osteoporosis and heart disease have more in common than we realize? In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Keith McCormick, a leading osteoporosis expert and author of Great Bones, to explore the shared roots of bone loss and cardiovascular disease. We dive into why these two conditions can appear together and what your bloodwork may reveal about what is happening beneath the surface.
Dr. McCormick takes us beyond the standard lab panel and explains why looking at patterns, trends, and hidden correlations matters when trying to understand the root causes of bone loss. We also talk about homocysteine and why this relatively simple test can provide important information about both bone and cardiovascular health.
This conversation is a great reminder that bone health doesn’t exist in isolation. Our bones, blood vessels, metabolism, inflammation, and overall health are interconnected. Understanding those connections can give us more information and more opportunities to take proactive steps toward stronger bones and better health.
“Osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease can be comorbidities. You need to stand up for your health and speak with your doctor about these things, and ask for good testing.“
~ Dr. Keith McCormick
In this episode:
[00:00] – Introduction and Dr. McCormick’s experience living with osteoporosis
[07:32] – The connection between osteoporosis and cardiovascular health
[12:15] – MTHFR and homocysteine: why they matter
[28:06] – The deeper lab testing approach
[29:09] – Jane’s case: severe osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease
[35:38] – The RANK/RANKL/OPG pathway connecting bones and blood vessels
[39:03] – Other labs to look at for bone and cardiovascular health
[42:20] – Inflammation, metabolism, and cardiovascular risk
[44:10] – Gut-bone-cardiovascular axis
[48:14] – Sample treatment plan to support bone and cardiovascular health
[53:55] – Advocating for your health and asking for the right tests
Resources mentioned
– Margie’s Strong Bones for Life Free Class on September 8 at 12:00 pm EDT