Maintaining Strong Bones and Protection from Osteoporosis

Vitamins May Help Prevent Bone Fractures
A new report published in the New England Journal of Medicine (2004, vol.350, no.20:  2033-2041) identifies folate and other B vitamins as important nutrients in helping ward off broken bones resulting from osteoporosis that may be caused by elevated homocysteine levels.  The report examined two major studies from Rotterdam and Amsterdam involving 2,406 subjects age 55 or older.  Subjects with the highest levels of homocysteine were nearly twice as susceptible to osteoporosis-related bone fractures compared to other subjects.  B vitamins and folate are already recognized in helping reduce high levels of homocysteine that are linked to heart attacks, strokes, Alzheimer’s disease, and severe birth defects.  Foods naturally rich in B vitamins in calcium include dairy products, broccoli and leafy green vegetables, carrots, avocados, cantaloupes and apricots among others.   Note: Sunnie formula contains nutrients that are believed to reduce homocycstine