Fighting fractures as we age.the amino acid amino acid (əmē`nō), any one of a class of simple organic compounds containing carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and in certain cases sulfur. These compounds are the building blocks of proteins. 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. is produced upon the chemical breakdown of certain proteins in the body. Levels increase with age, and as they do they can cause damage to blood vessels Blood vessels Tubular channels for blood transport, of which there are three principal types: arteries, capillaries, and veins. Only the larger arteries and veins in the body bear distinct names. and plaque to build up in the arteries. In addition to heart disease risk, it is well documented that very high homocysteine blood levels are related to osteoporosis in people with a genetic disorder known as homocystinuria. But two recent studies reveal a possible connection between moderately elevated homocysteine levels and fracture risk, particularly in people over age 55. In a study that looked at the widely-known Framingham data gathered over the past 20 years from nearly 2,000 men and women, people in the group with the highest levels of homocysteine had two to four times more hip fractures than those in the other groups. In the Netherlands, a second study found similar results in an even larger population sample. Notably, the studies reveal no link between homocysteine levels and bone mineral density bone mineral density n. See bone density. bone mineral density A measurement of bone mass, expressed as the amount of mineral–in grams divided by the area scanned in cm2. See Bone densitometry. (BMD BMD In currencies, this is the abbreviation for the Bermudian Dollar. Notes: The currency market, also known as the Foreign Exchange market, is the largest financial market in the world, with a daily average volume of over US $1 trillion. ). Clearly there is another mechanism that warrants further study, but it is believed that homocysteine may interfere with the collagen molecules that link together to provide a strong "matrix" for calcium to sit in healthy bones. It's possible to have normal BMD and fragile bones--if calcium amounts are inadequate and the bone matrix is weak. Runners and those who perform regular load-bearing exercise are already utilizing one powerful strategy for keeping bones strong. But as we age, this battle gets harder to fight. An abundance of the B group of vitamins can attenuate To reduce the force or severity; to lessen a relationship or connection between two objects. In Criminal Procedure, the relationship between an illegal search and a confession may be sufficiently attenuated as to remove the confession from the protection afforded by the the build-up of homocysteine in the blood. It's good idea to consume a multivitamin mul·ti·vi·ta·min adj. Containing many vitamins. n. A preparation containing many vitamins. multivitamin with 400 mcg of folic acid (vitamin B9), 1.5 to 2 mg of vitamin B6 and 2.4 to 6 mcg of vitamin B12. It's too early to say whether that could reduce fracture risk in those over age 55, but with further study this important new link between elevated homocysteine levels and hip fracture could lead to improved diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures in older populations. (Harvard Women's Health Watch, 2005, Vol. 12, No. 6, p. 7; New Eng. J. Med., 2004, Vol. 350, No. 20, pp. 2033-2049) |
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