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Relation of plasma total homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12 levels to bone mineral density in Moroccan healthy postmenopausal women

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Abstract

To test whether in Moroccan healthy postmenopausal women, levels of plasma total homocysteine (tHcy), folate, and vitamin B12 are related to BMD. A total of 188 volunteer postmenopausal women were recruited from our blood taking center between April 2008 and December 2008. Each subject completed a standardized questionnaire designed to document putative risk factors of osteoporosis. Bone mineral density was determined by a Lunar Prodigy Vision DXA system, and blood samples for plasma tHcy, folate, vitamin B12, and serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) were taken. Comparison between women with osteoporosis, osteopenia and normal BMD showed that the osteoporotic women were significantly older, had lower weight and height than the women of the other groups. Plasma tHcy was significantly higher in the osteoporotic group. Levels of tHcy were inversely related to BMD at the lumbar spine, at the total hip and plasma vitamin B12 and positively related to age and creatinine. Multiple regression analysis showed that age and BMI were the main predictors of BMD at the lumbar spine, whereas the main predictors of BMD at the total hip were age, BMI, plasma tHcy, and plasma vitamin B12. tHcy and vitamin B12 are independent risk factors for osteoporosis in Moroccan healthy postmenopausal women.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by AMIRHAL: the “Association Marocaine de Recherche et d’Information sur l’handicap et l’Appareil Locomoteur”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biochemistry Department, Military Hospital Mohammed V, PO Box 1018, Rabat, Morocco

    Zhor Ouzzif, Khalid Oumghar, Karim Sbai & El Mustapha Derouiche

  2. Rheumatology Department, Military Hospital Mohammed V, PO Box 1018, Rabat, Morocco

    Aziza Mounach & Abdellah El Maghraoui

Authors
  1. Zhor Ouzzif
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  2. Khalid Oumghar
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  3. Karim Sbai
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  4. Aziza Mounach
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  5. El Mustapha Derouiche
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  6. Abdellah El Maghraoui
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Correspondence to Abdellah El Maghraoui.

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Ouzzif, Z., Oumghar, K., Sbai, K. et al. Relation of plasma total homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12 levels to bone mineral density in Moroccan healthy postmenopausal women. Rheumatol Int 32, 123–128 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-010-1551-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-010-1551-x

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