Homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 levels and vertebral fracture risk in postmenopausal women.

The objective of this study was to examine the influence of homocysteine, vitamin B(12), and folate on the prevalence of asymptomatic osteoporotic vertebral fractures (VFs) using vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) in postmenopausal women. The study cohort consisted of 188 consecutive postmenopausal women (mean age, weight, and body mass index of 57.9 ± 8.5 [41-91]yr, 74.4 ± 13.5 [38-150]kg, and 30.4 ± 5.2 [17.1-50.7]kg/m(2), respectively). Lateral VFA images and scans of the lumbar spine and proximal femur were obtained using a Lunar Prodigy Vision densitometer (GE Healthcare Inc., Waukesha, WI). VFs were defined using a combination of Genant's semiquantitative approach and morphometry. Fifty-eight (30.9%) patients had densitometric osteoporosis. VFs were identified using VFA in 76 (40.4%) patients: 61 women had grade 1 VFs and 15 had grade 2 or 3 VFs. No statistical difference was shown between the 3 groups (absence of VFs, VFs grade 1, and VFs grade 2/3) concerning the biological parameters. Comparison of patients according to quartiles of homocysteine levels showed that women in the highest quartile were older and had a lower bone mineral density (BMD); however, the prevalence of VFs was not statistically different from that of women in the other quartile groups. Stepwise regression analysis showed that homocysteine was not independently associated with the presence of VFs, which was mainly related to the osteoporotic status. Although a weak association was observed between hyperhomocysteinemia and low BMD and a trend to higher prevalence of grade 2/3 VFs was observed, our study did not confirm that homocysteine, vitamin B(12), and folate status are important determinants of prevalent asymptomatic VFs in postmenopausal women.

Relation of plasma total homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12 levels to bone mineral density in Moroccan healthy postmenopausal women.

To test whether in Moroccan healthy postmenopausal women, levels of plasma total homocysteine (tHcy), folate, and vitamin B12 are related to BMD. A total of 188 volunteer postmenopausal women were recruited from our blood taking center between April 2008 and December 2008. Each subject completed a standardized questionnaire designed to document putative risk factors of osteoporosis. Bone mineral density was determined by a Lunar Prodigy Vision DXA system, and blood samples for plasma tHcy, folate, vitamin B12, and serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) were taken. Comparison between women with osteoporosis, osteopenia and normal BMD showed that the osteoporotic women were significantly older, had lower weight and height than the women of the other groups. Plasma tHcy was significantly higher in the osteoporotic group. Levels of tHcy were inversely related to BMD at the lumbar spine, at the total hip and plasma vitamin B12 and positively related to age and creatinine. Multiple regression analysis showed that age and BMI were the main predictors of BMD at the lumbar spine, whereas the main predictors of BMD at the total hip were age, BMI, plasma tHcy, and plasma vitamin B(12). tHcy and vitamin B12 are independent risk factors for osteoporosis in Moroccan healthy postmenopausal women.