Vitamin B-12 Levels Linked to Bone Loss in Aging Women
Chase MD, 3 March 2004
Source: The Endocrine Society
May Slow Bone Loss
women with low levels of vitamin B-12 are more likely to experience
rapid bone loss, according to new research published this month
in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. The
new findings help to establish the importance of vitamin B-12 in
the bone health of women as they age.
B-12, which is found in animal products, such as meat, shellfish,
milk, cheese and eggs, is needed to produce red blood cells and
maintain a healthy nervous system. Still, little is known about
the vitamin's effects on skeletal health, specifically among aging
women. Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco,
led by Dr. Katie Stone, studied whether elderly women with low levels
of vitamin B-12 suffer from more rapid bone loss.
a random, cohort study of 83 women over the age of 64 who participated
in the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures, researchers archived baseline
serum samples and measured hip bone mineral density in study subjects
during two and six year follow-up examinations. Test results demonstrated
that after adjusting for age, weight and clinic site, women with
the lowest levels of B-12 (below 280 pg/ml) experienced significantly
more rapid hip bone loss than women with higher levels of B-12 (above
deficiencies in vitamin B-12 are uncommon among younger women, many
older women suffer from vitamin B-12 deficiency," explains Dr. Stone.
"Our research shows that the women with the lowest levels of vitamin
B-12 are at an increased risk for bone loss in their hips, which
could lead to fractures. We knew that vitamin B-12 benefited the
nervous system, but our findings suggest that it may also benefit
authors note that these results indicate that for some elderly women,
simple dietary supplements of vitamin B-12 or multivitamins or dietary
modification may slow the rates of bone loss.
larger, randomized trial would be needed to determine whether treatment
with supplemental vitamin B-12 could reduce rates of bone loss in
elderly women," notes Dr. Steve Cummings, one of the investigators
on the study.
is one of four journals published by The Endocrine Society. Founded
in 1916, The Endocrine Society is the world's oldest, largest, and
most active organization devoted to research on hormones, and the
clinical practice of endocrinology. The Endocrine Society is based
in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
are specially trained doctors who diagnose, treat and conduct basic
and clinical research on complex hormonal disorders such as diabetes,
thyroid disease, osteoporosis, obesity, hypertension, cholesterol
and reproductive disorders.
The Endocrine Society's membership consists of over 11,000 scientists,
physicians, educators, nurses and students, in more than 80 countries.
Together, these members represent all basic, applied, and clinical
interests in endocrinology.
Endocrine Society (www.endo-society.org).