Experimental folate and vitamin B12 deficiency does not alter bone quality in rats

Herrmann, Markus; Wildemann, Britt; Wagner, Alexandra; Wolny, Martin; Schorr, Heike; Taban-Shomal, Omid; Umanskaya, Natalia; Ross, Steffen; Garcia, Patric; Hübner, Ulrich; Herrmann, Wolfgang (2009). Experimental folate and vitamin B12 deficiency does not alter bone quality in rats. Journal of bone and mineral research, 24(4), pp. 589-96. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley-Blackwell 10.1359/JBMR.081211

Full text not available from this repository.

Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHCY) has been linked to fragility fractures and osteoporosis. Folate and vitamin B(12) deficiencies are among the main causes of HHCY. However, the impact of these vitamins on bone health has been poorly studied. This study analyzed the effect of folate and vitamin B(12) deficiency on bone in rats. We used two groups of rats: a control group (Co, n = 10) and a vitamin-deficient group (VitDef, n = 10). VitDef animals were fed for 12 wk with a folate- and vitamin B(12)-free diet. Co animals received an equicaloric control diet. Tissue and plasma concentrations of homocysteine (HCY), S-adenosyl-homocysteine (SAH), and S-adenosyl-methionine (SAM) were measured. Bone quality was assessed by biomechanical testing (maximum force of an axial compression test; F(max)), histomorphometry (bone area/total area; B.Ar./T.Ar.], and the measurement of biochemical bone turnover markers (osteocalcin, collagen I C-terminal cross-laps [CTX]). VitDef animals developed significant HHCY (Co versus VitDef: 6.8 +/- 2.7 versus 61.1 +/- 12.8 microM, p < 0.001) that was accompanied by a high plasma concentration of SAH (Co versus VitDef: 24.1 +/- 5.9 versus 86.4 +/- 44.3 nM, p < 0.001). However, bone tissue concentrations of HCY, SAH, and SAM were similar in the two groups. Fmax, B.Ar./T.Ar., OC, and CTX did not differ between VitDef and Co animals, indicating that bone quality was not affected. Folate and vitamin B(12) deficiency induces distinct HHCY but has no effect on bone health in otherwise healthy adult rats. The unchanged HCY metabolism in bone is the most probable explanation for the missing effect of the vitamin-free diet on bone.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
ISSN:	0884-0431
Publisher:	Wiley-Blackwell
Language:	English
Submitter:	Factscience Import
Date Deposited:	04 Oct 2013 15:13
Last Modified:	04 May 2014 23:23
Publisher DOI:	10.1359/JBMR.081211
PubMed ID:	19049328
Web of Science ID:	000264724700004
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/32193 (FactScience: 197174)