Effect of vitamin B1 supplementation on bone turnover markers in adults: an exploratory single-arm pilot study

Although B vitamins have been shown to play beneficial roles in bone health, the effects of vitamin B1 in humans are still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of vitamin B1 supplementation on middle-aged and older adults. This single-armed trial study included community-dwelling adults in Japan and used a pre- and post-test design. The participants were given 28.0 mg of vitamin B1 supplementation per day for 1 month in addition to their daily usual diet. The effect of this treatment on bone turnover markers and metabolism was evaluated at baseline and after 1 month. Forty-two participants were enrolled (mean age, 58.6 ± 10.4 years; 36 women). The vitamin B1 levels in whole blood increased significantly from baseline after vitamin B1 supplementation. The level of serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP 5b), a bone resorption marker, reduced significantly (378 ± 135 vs. 335 ± 120 mU/dL, p < 0.001), while the level of N-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (P1NP), a marker specific to bone formation, did not change. Moreover, the serum phosphorus and parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations did not change, whereas the corrected serum calcium concentrations increased and vitamin D concentrations decreased. The serum TRACP 5b levels decreased after vitamin B1 supplementation in the middle-aged and older adults. Further definitive trials are needed to determine the efficacy of vitamin B1 in improving bone health.