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Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts
Published on: January 29, 2018
One year B and D vitamins supplementation improves metabolic bone markers
Wolfgang Herrmann1, Susanne H Kirsch, Vera Kruse
1Department of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg/Saar, Germany. prof.wolfgang.herrmann@uks.eu
Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine
|November 28, 2012
Summary
Vitamin D3 supplementation, with or without B vitamins, significantly reduced bone turnover in elderly individuals. While vitamin D3 lowered parathormone, B vitamins did not further improve bone health but may reduce osteoporosis risk by lowering homocysteine.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Nutritional Biochemistry
- Metabolic Bone Disease
Background:
- Vitamin D and B vitamin deficiencies are prevalent in the elderly, increasing osteoporosis and age-related disease risks.
- Supplementation strategies are being explored for preventative measures in aging populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of combined vitamin D3 and B vitamin supplementation on bone turnover and metabolism in older adults.
- To compare the effects of vitamin D3 alone versus vitamin D3 plus B vitamins.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind trial involving 93 healthy subjects over 54 years old.
- Participants received daily vitamin D3 (1200 IU) with calcium carbonate, either alone (Group B) or with folic acid, B12, and B6 (Group A).
- Bone turnover markers, vitamin levels, and metabolites were measured at baseline and after 6 and 12 months.
Main Results:
- Both groups showed increased 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] and decreased parathormone levels after one year.
- Vitamin D3 supplementation alone (Group B) led to a greater reduction in parathormone and bone turnover markers (bone alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, tartrate-resistant-acid-phosphatase 5b) compared to Group A.
- B vitamins significantly lowered total homocysteine (tHcy) in Group A, but this did not further enhance bone turnover markers.
Conclusions:
- Vitamin D3 supplementation effectively reduces bone turnover and lowers parathormone in the elderly.
- The addition of B vitamins to vitamin D3 did not provide additional benefits for bone turnover markers.
- B vitamins' homocysteine-lowering effect may offer a separate pathway to modulate osteoporotic risk.
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