B-12 & bones.In a study of more than 2,500 men and women, those with low blood levels of vitamin B-12 had lower bone density than those with higher B-12 levels. Low levels of B-12 (below 148 picograms per milliliter milliliter /mil·li·li·ter/ (mL) (-le?ter) one thousandth (10-3) of a liter. mil·li·li·ter n. Abbr. ) were linked to lower bone density in the spine (in women) and the hip (in men). Many older people become deficient in B-12 because they don't have enough stomach acid to separate the vitamin when it's bound to the protein in food. (They can still absorb the unbound unbound said of electrolytes, e.g. iron and calcium, and other substances which are circulating in the bloodstream and are not bound to plasma proteins so that they are available immediately for metabolic processes. See also calcium, iron. B-12 that's added to supplements and fortified foods.) Researchers aren't sure why a B-12 deficiency may weaken bones. One possibility: our bodies need the vitamin to make osteoblasts Osteoblasts Cells in the body that build new bone tissue. Mentioned in: Bone Grafting, Osteoporosis , the cells that build new bone. A B-12 deficiency may also weaken bones by raising blood levels of homocysteine Homocysteine Definition Homocysteine is a naturally occurring amino acid found in blood plasma. High levels of homocysteine in the blood are believed to increase the chance of heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and osteoporosis. , a protein that has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. What to do: Anyone over age 50 should take a daily multivitamin mul·ti·vi·ta·min adj. Containing many vitamins. n. A preparation containing many vitamins. multivitamin , which should have at least 6 micrograms (mcg) of vitamin B-12. The vitamin is also added to many breakfast cereals and other fortified foods. J. Bone Mineral Res. 20: 152, 2005. |
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