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Extra Advantage
Vitamin B12 can thwart rapid bone
loss among older women, says Biplab Das
Older women prone to brittle bone disease may now heave a sigh of relief. A new study published in the March issue of
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism has revealed that vitamin
B12 can thwart rapid bone loss among older women. "Till now, this vitamin was hailed for producing red blood cells and maintaining a healthy nervous system," said Dr. Katie Stone, who led the research team at the University of California, San Francisco. "But our findings suggest that it may also benefit bone health."
The team studied the effects of vitamin B12 on 83 women over the age of 64. They looked at fractures caused by osteoporosis (thinning of bones). The subjects' blood samples and hipbone density were closely monitored, initially for two years, and then for another six. The results showed that women with lowest levels of vitamin
B12 experienced rapid bone loss and suffered more fractures. On the other hand, those with higher vitamin
B12 levels had reduced bone loss and were less prone to fractures.
"While vitamin B12 deficiency is uncommon among younger women, many older women suffer from it," explained Stone. "Our research shows that women with lowest levels of vitamin
B12 are at an increased risk for bone loss in their hips, which could lead to fractures," she added.
According to Stone and her colleagues, simple dietary supplements of vitamin
B12 or multivitamins may slow down the rate of bone loss, reducing the risk of bone injury.
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4 More Benefits of Vitamin
B12
1) Vitamin B12, taken with other B vitamins and vitamin A, is very good for maintaining cataracts (damage to the lens of the eyes that leads to cloudy vision).
2) Blood levels of vitamin B12 are often low in people with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). In HIV infection, levels of vitamin
B12 should be screened over time and B12 injections may be considered if levels get too low, especially if such patients have symptoms of
B12 deficiency.
3) Population-based studies of postmenopausal women suggest that low vitamin
B12 levels in the blood may be associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.
4) Extensive studies suggest that vitamin B12
supplements may improve sperm counts and sperm mobility. Further studies are needed to best understand how exactly it helps men with a low sperm count or poor sperm quality.
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