Relationship of homocysteine and homocysteine-related vitamins to bone mineral density in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes.
Aims/Introduction:  To estimate nutritional risk factors for osteoporosis in patients with type 2 diabetes, bone mineral density, homocysteine level, and intakes and levels of Hcy-related vitamins including folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 were analyzed in a cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Lumbar spine and femoral neck bone mineral density, serum concentrations of vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and folate and plasma homocysteine levels were measured in 125 Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes. Nutrient intake values were evaluated using a food frequency questionnaire.


RESULTS
Homocysteine was inversely correlated with bone mineral density, and with both dietary intake and serum concentration of folate. Intake of green vegetables was correlated with intake and level of folate and homocysteine levels. When the population was analyzed across the quartiles, bone mineral density, serum folate concentration, folate intake and intake of green vegetables were lowest in the highest homocysteine group.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with type 2 diabetes, the nutritional status of folate might affect the homocysteine level, a putative risk factor for osteoporosis. (J Diabetes Invest, doi: 10.1111/j.2040-1124.2010.00088.x, 2011).
Department of Diabetes and Clinical Nutrition, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University.
Chizumi
C
Yamada
Department of Diabetes and Clinical Nutrition, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University.
Shimpei
S
Fujimoto
Department of Diabetes and Clinical Nutrition, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University.
Kaori
K
Ikeda
Department of Metabolism and Clinical Nutrition, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto.
Yuki
Y
Nomura
Department of Metabolism and Clinical Nutrition, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto.
Ami
A
Matsubara
Department of Metabolism and Clinical Nutrition, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto.
Miwako
M
Kanno
Department of Metabolism and Clinical Nutrition, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto.
Kenichiro
K
Shide
School of Human Culture, The University of Shiga Prefecture, Hikone.
Kiyoshi
K
Tanaka
Department of Food and Nutrition, Kyoto Women's University, Kyoto, Japan.
Eri
E
Imai
Department of Food and Nutrition, Kyoto Women's University, Kyoto, Japan.
Tsutomu
T
Fukuwatari
Department of Food and Nutrition, Kyoto Women's University, Kyoto, Japan.
Katsumi
K
Shibata
Department of Diabetes and Clinical Nutrition, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University.
Nobuya
N
Inagaki
Folate; Homocysteine; Osteoporosis