Vitamin B12 is important to DNA synthesis and may affect bone formation. We examined the association between this vitamin and BMD in 2576 adults. Men with plasma B12 < 148 pM had significantly lower BMD at the hip, and women at the spine, relative to those with higher B12, and trends were similar for both at all sites. Low vitamin B12 may be a risk factor for low BMD.

Both men and women with vitamin B12 concentrations <148 pM had lower average BMD than those with vitamin B12 above this cut-off. These differences were significant for men at most hip sites and for women at the spine. Significance remained after further adjustment for protein intake and plasma homo- cysteine.

Vitamin B12 deficiency may be an important modifiable risk factor for osteoporosis.