Dr. Paul Miller is a highly sought after research specialist, not only does he treat patients with metabolic bone diseases as they progress through the different stages of their lives and diseases, but he also researches new ways to help treat and in the future cure these ailments. Dr. Miller is the principal investigator for all major clinical drug trials centered around medications to treat osteoporosis.  He works with companies in both the United States, Europe and Asia to help develop and test newest cutting-edge medications that can help strengthen bone and even grow new bone.

As he follows his patients through these trials, he treats each one with the best evidence-based medicine and clinical experience in an effort to develop more effective treatments for metabolic bone diseases. Some areas of recent focus for Dr. Miller include clinical trials, outcomes, and side effects in the following medications:

• New anabolic agents that help stimulate bone formation, improve bone quality and help heal fractures.
• Anti-resorptive medications which help slow the break down of bones.
  • Calcitonins which are hormones that help build bone density of the spine.
  • Bisphosphonates which help slow the break down of bone by improving bone density in the spine, hips and other bones, and reducing bone turnover.
• Hormone therapies like parathyroid and estrogen which can help in protecting bone and increasing bone density.

As Dr. Miller manages and monitors each of his patients at the Colorado Center for Bone Research, he may order DXA scans for vertebral fracture assessments to look for asymptomatic TBS (trabecular bone score – a partial measurement of bone quality) or bone biopsies to better diagnose and monitor the markers of specific diseases.  These procedures are all performed right at Panorama Orthopedics & Spine Center’s Imaging Center or Golden Ridge Surgery Center.

In order to improve the field of metabolic bone disease treatment, Dr. Miller works with the National Osteoporosis Foundation, American Bone Health, and many other foundations and publications to maintain national and worldwide reference databases. Specifically, Dr. Miller maintains a national reference population database for biochemical markers for bone turnover.

Through his extensive research Dr. Miller is able to offer solutions to symptoms, as well as, monitor the progress of each patient’s disease. Dr. Miller specializes in the research, diagnosis and treatment of the following metabolic bone diseases:

• Osteopenia and Osteoporosis
• Paget’s Disease: bone regenerates more quickly and leads to weak and misshapen bones
• Rare and Renal Bone Diseases
  • Tumor Induced Osteomalasia (Oncogenic Osteomalacia): Difficult to locate tumors exist that emit FGF23 which impairs phosphate reabsorption and leads to low levels of vitamin D
  • Hypophosphatasia: Genetic disease that affects the mineralization of bones and teeth, causes soft bones due to the lack of bone absorption of calcium and phosphorus.
• Low Trauma Bone Fractures: due to extended exposure to bisphosphonates there exists reduced healing and increased fracture risk
• Osteomalacia (rickets, adult rickets): softening of bones usually due to severe vitamin D deficiency
• Hypoparathyroidism: Leads to decreased calcium and increased phosphorous levels in blood
• Hyperparathyroidism: Converse to hypoparathyroidism, the hormone that regulates the calcium and phosphorus levels in blood is overproduced leads to illness, fragile bones, kidney stones, etc.
• Osteogenesis Imperfecta – Bones that break easily with little or no apparent cause

Dr. Miller’s research and clinical trials are the perfect complement to the work done by the Orthopedic team at Panorama Orthopedics & Spine Center.  Patients who have fractures that are not healing, spontaneous fractures or fractures related to osteoporosis are now able to benefit from the expertise of Dr. Paul Miller at the Colorado Center for Bone Research. His expertise and access to the newest clinical drug trials allow patients to receive the most advanced and complete treatment for their condition.

Your diet and the foods you eat affect your bone health. You can greatly improve your health by incorporating foods and supplements that build bone strength so that they will support you throughout your life.

The key players in your diet for bone health are calcium and vitamin D. These are essential nutrients for building bone density and healthy teeth. Because your body can’t manufacture its own calcium, getting it from your food and drinks is important.

Dr. Miller recommends the following doses of Calcium and Vitamin D:

• Calcium: 1500 – 2000 mg daily
• Vitamin D: 1000 – 2000 IU daily

* Please note – Dr. Miller often recommends that women older than 50 years of age take greater amounts of calcium and vitamin D on a daily basis than the amounts recommended by the National Osteoporosis Foundation.

It is in recent years that research has shown the importance of vitamin D levels and the role they play in allowing the body to absorb the calcium. Recent data shows that many people are vitamin D deficient even when they are getting regular sunlight exposure and drinking milk.  Men and women alike need both calcium and vitamin D to maintain strong bones.

Dr. Miller may also suggest that patients increase their vitamin D intake above the National Recommended Allowance due to the growing evidence that suggests it can benefit overall health having higher vitamin D levels than the minimum level necessary for calcium absorption.

Dr Miller has provided more information on nutrition for strong bones.  Please review the following resources to help you better understand the role calcium plays in bone health.

• More about Calcium Supplements
• Dietary Calcium Sources