When people think about how to protect their bone health, calcium is typically the first thing that pops into their minds. But vitamin B12? Well, not so much. However, it may be time to think about this important B vitamin when it comes to preserving your bones.

Vitamin B12 and Bone Studies

Two studies in particular point to a substantial relationship between vitamin B12 and bone health. Epidemiologist Katherine Tucker at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging in Boston conducted one of the studies using data from the Framingham Osteoporosis Study. She and her colleagues evaluated vitamin B12 blood levels and bone health indicators gathered from 2,576 men and women who ranged in age from 30 to 87 years.

Tucker discovered a link between a deficiency of vitamin B12 and the development of osteoporosis in both men and women and published the findings in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. The research team discovered that in both men and women who had levels of vitamin B12 lower than 148 picomoles per liter (pM/L), their risk of osteoporosis was greater than those who had higher levels of the vitamin. Individuals who had B12 levels lower than 148 pM/L also had significantly lower average bone mineral density than those with higher vitamin B12 levels.

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A new study from Northumbria University indicates that runners who drank cherry juice experienced a faster recovery than athletes who downed a placebo.

The study centered around runners in the London Marathon, 20 of whom drank either a tart cherry blend juice made from Montmorency cherries or a placebo twice daily for five days before they ran the race. After the race they continued the twice-a-day juice or placebo habit for two additional days. Read more »»

Mr. JoMo just got back from Tahiti where over lunch of Poisson Cru one day we started debating the relative value of good genes versus lifestyle and what matters most in terms of living a long and healthy life.

Of course the debate started when I questioned the amount of French fries that were arriving at the table as well as the butter that was being spread on some great French baguettes (we were, after all, in France technically). Read more »»

As reported in the LA Times this morning, a recent study found that flip-flops and flat shoes relieved arthritic knees whereas clogs and stability shoes actually put more stress on knees.

In a study that evaluated the force or “load” on arthritic knees while wearing clogs, athletic shoes with stability features, flat walking shoes, flip-flops, and going barefoot, the flat and flexible shoes won out, says study lead author Najia Shakoor, MD, an associate professor of internal medicine at Rush Medical College and an attending physician at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Read more »»

The Journal of the American Medical Association today released findings related to physical exercise and weight gain prevention.

The amount of physical activity needed to prevent long-term weight gain was generally seen as unclear. In 2008, federal guidelines recommended at least 150 minutes per week (7.5 metabolic equivalent [MET] hours per week) of moderate-intensity activity for “substantial health benefits.”

The objective of the study was to examine the association of different amounts of physical activity with long-term weight changes among women consuming a usual diet. Read more »»