Low blood levels of B Vitamins can increase the risk for hip fracture, according to a new study. Blood samples from more than 1,000 elderly adults were tested for levels of vitamins B6 and B12, and for the blood protein homocysteine. Research links high levels of homocysteine to increased risk of hip fractures, and levels are known to go up as B vitamin levels go down. The researchers found that participants with deficiency in either B6 or B12 were about 60% more likely to experience a hip fracture during the four-year follow-up period than those who had sufficient levels of the vitamins. The lower a person’s B vitamin levels, the higher their observed rate of bone loss. Those with elevated homocysteine had a 50 to 70% higher risk of hip fracture
Source: Natural News, Dec 15, 2008
