A Comparison of Serum Homocysteine, Folate and Vitamin B۱۲ in Postmenopausal Women with Low and Normal Bone Mineral Density

Background and Objective: Osteoporotic fractures are major health problems in contemporary societies which are associated with increased morbidity and mortality and substantial economic costs. Recently, increased plasma homocysteine (Hcy) level has been suggested as an independent risk factor for osteoporotic fractures. This study aimed to compare the level of plasma homocysteine, folate and vitamin B۱۲ in Iranian postmenopausal women with low and normal bone mineral density (BMD). Materials and Methods: In this case-control study which was performed from August ۲۰۰۶ to May ۲۰۰۷, BMD of ۱۳۰ Iranian postmenopausal women were measured by dual energy X- ray absorbtiometry (DXA). The subjects were assigned to one of the two groups of case (BMD < -۱; n= ۶۷) and control (BMD ≥ -۱; n=۶۳). Fasting plasma Homocysteine, folate and vitamin B۱۲ were also determined. BMD at the neck of femur and lumbar spine, together with other collected data were analyzed with SPSS and T- test. Results: The mean age of the subjects was ۵۸.۱ ± ۶ years. The mean of Hcy level in the case group was ۱۶.۹۸±۹.۴ and in the control group was ۱۲.۳۹(p=۰.۰۰۲ M mol/L). The mean of vit-B۱۲ in the case group was ۵۹۸± ۸۰۱ and in the control group was ۵۵۱.۲±۴۱۰ (p=۰.۰۰۷ Pg/L). Mann-Whitney test exibited a significant difference. The mean of serum folate level in the case group was ۵.۲±۲.۹ and in the control group was ۶.۵±۲.۹ (p=۰.۰۱۷ Ng/L). Hcy, folate and B۱۲ were significantly related to low BMD. LS –T score was negatively related to Hcy level and FN T-score had a positive relation with folate and B۱۲ (p=۰.۰۰۲, p=۰.۰۱۷ and p=۰.۰۰۷, respectively). There was a relationship between folate and B۱۲ and with increasing serm folate level, B۱۲ level increased, too. Conclusion: The results suggest an association of vitamin B۱۲ and folate with BMD. Whether this relationship is causal, remains unclear and demands further study.

Keywords:

Homocysteine , Folate , Vitamin B۱۲ , Postmenopausal women , BMD