Osteoporosis is a degenerative bone disease that is largely a disease which is associated with aging. There is a general lack of calcium in the bones and bones become brittle, easily fractured with external shock and stress. High levels of the metabolic intermediate homocysteine which is an amino acid created by the single carbon chemistry of S-adenosyl-methionine is already associated with a risk of cardiovascular disease and now a linkage has been associated with osteoporosis (Joyce B.J.van Meurs, May 13, 2004).
The paper which is under consideration is the result of a study of a large sample of aged patients, aged 55 years and older. An attempt is made to link elevated plasma levels of homocysteine and risk of fractures by observing the incidence of fracture. Multivariate Cox proportional-hazards regression models were used for analysis of the risk of fracture, with adjustment for age, sex, body-mass index and other characteristics. It was concluded that a higher level of homocystine is associated with osteoporosis fractures. The subjects in the study consisted of both males and females who participated with their free consent, which is both legal and ethical. Only fractures which could have been the result of osteoporosis were included in the study and others which were considered to be a normal consequence of abnormal stress were excluded. Bone mineral density was measured using the x-ray absorptiometry at the femoral neck and lumber spine, while homocysteine levels were measured using high pressure liquid chromatography. Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis was used to estimate the risk of fracture.
The elevated risk of fracture with the elevated levels of homocystine was found to be the same in both the sexes. The age- and sex- adjusted risk of fracture increased by 30 percent with each increase of 1 SD in homocysteine levels and the larger bones were affected with higher levels of the substance.......
