The Effect Of B-Vitamins On Biochemical Bone Turnover Markers And Bone Mineral Density In Osteoporotic Patients

SYDNEY, Australia— Researchers at the University of Sydney analyzed the effect of a homocysteine (HCY)-lowering treatment in osteoporotic individuals (Clin Chem Lab Med. 18 Nov, 2007. E-publication) . Osteoporotic subjects, aged between 55-82 years, were treated with either a combination of 2.5 mg folate, 0.5 mg vitamin B12 and 25 mg vitamin B6, or placebo. Bone mineral density at lumbar spine and hip was measured at baseline and after 1 year. Urinary desoxypyridinoline cross-links and plasma levels of tartrate resistant acid phosphatase, C-terminal cross-links of collagen I, pro-collagen type I N-terminal peptide and osteocalcin were measured after zero, four, eight and 12 months.
Researchers found B-vitamin supplementation significantly reduced homocysteine, while placebo treatment had no effect. Bone mineral density tartrate resistant acid phosphatase, collagen I, osteocalcin and pro-collagen type I N-terminal peptide did not change throughout the study in both groups. Vitamin treatment decreased Urinary desoxypyridinoline cross-links by13 percent after eight and 12 months. In a sub-group analysis of hyperhomocysteinemic subjects, B-vitamin treatment tended to increase bone mineral density at the lumbar spine, and decreased osteocalcin and pro-collagen type I N-terminal peptide by approximately 50 percent. It was concluded that B-vitamin supplementation had no consistent effects on bone turnover or bone mass densisty, however, the situation may be different in patients with hyperhomocysteinemia.

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