An Insight into the Role of Vitamins other than Vitamin D on Bone

Review Article

Austin J Nutr Metab. 2015; 2(3): 1024.

An Insight into the Role of Vitamins other than Vitamin D on Bone

Salazar RE1 and Banu J1,2*

¹Coordinated Program in Dietetics, University of Texas, USA

²Department of Biology, University of Texas, USA

*Corresponding author: Jameela Banu, Department of Biology, College of Health Sciences and Human Services, University of Texas - Pan American, 1201, W University Drive, Edinburg, TX 78539-2999, USA

Received: July 08, 2015; Accepted: August 09, 2015; Published: August 11, 2015

Abstract

Vitamins are essential micronutrients for normal development. Great emphasis has been placed on vitamin D for bone development and maintenance. However, other vitamins also influence bone health. While some of them are more beneficial to bone and increase bone mass by increasing bone formation, calcium deposition and stimulate osteoblastogenesis, higher concentrations of others have deleterious effects causing fragile bones and increasing the risk of fractures. Knowledge about the effects of these vitamins will help in better maintenance of bone. This review focuses on the information available on vitamins A,B,C,E and K on bone health. Existing information supports vitamin C and K to play a role in bone formation and calcification. Vitamin E in low amounts and some of the B vitamins may also be beneficial to bone. There is very limited data supporting the favorable effects of vitamin A.

Keywords: Vitamin A; Vitamin B; Vitamin C; Vitamin E; Vitamin K; Bone

Abbreviations

ALP: Alkaline Phosphatase; αTF: α tocopherol; BMC: Bone Mineral Content; BMD: Bone Mineral Density; BMP: Bone Morphogenetic Protein; COX2: Cyclooxygenase 2; FN: Femoral Neck; G-CSF: Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor; IGF-I: Insulin Like Growth Factor I; IL: Interleukin; MTHFR: Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase; NFAT: Nuclear Factor Activated T Cells; OVX: Ovariectomized; PTH: Parathyroid Hormone; PPAR: Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor; PGE: Prostaglandin E; PUFA: Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid; RAR: Retinoic Acid Receptor; RXR: Retinoid X Receptor; RA: Retinoic Acid; RANKL: Receptor Activated Nuclear Factor Kappa Ligand; SVCT: Sodium Dependent Vitamin C Transporter; IEC-6: Small Intestine Epithelial Cells; SD: Sprague Dawley; TGF: Tumor Growth Factor; TRAP: Tartrateresistant Acid Phosphatase

Introduction

An individual’s well-being is dependent on several factors such as: diet, physical activity, availability of resources etc. Among diet, the balance in intake of macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and micronutrients like vitamins and minerals is important. Vitamins form some of the most essential micronutrients. They are implicated in many diseases that can be reversed by supplementing or limiting the intake of vitamins.

Vitamins are divided into water soluble (B vitamins, C) or fat soluble (vitamins A, D, E, K) depending on their solubility. Their categorization also refers to the mode by which they are absorbed in the body after digestion. Water soluble vitamins are absorbed with the help of sodium dependent transporters, while fat soluble vitamins follow the fat absorption pathway and are packed in chylomicrons for delivery to the organs. The availability and storage of these vitamins is dependent on ones intake. They serve as important catalyst for many enzymatic activities; are converted to essential compounds required for normal metabolism or they can activate and deactivate important signaling pathways. Therefore, adequate vitamin intake is necessary for normal development of all the different organ systems, in an individual, including the skeletal system.

Bone is an active organ undergoing modeling and remodeling throughout life. During childhood and adolescence, bone modeling takes place helping the bones to grow. Throughout this period, bone formation is dominant and needs balanced nutrients to increase bone mass. After attaining peak bone mass, the skeletal system is maintained by bone remodeling and bone resorption increases, steadily decreasing bone mass with age. Several vitamins play a role in building bones and maintaining them through the years. An imbalance or decrease intake of these vitamins can negatively impact the bone remodeling process by increasing bone resorption. When bones do not get the nourishment required for normal growth and development, they are weak and are easily susceptible to fractures putting individuals at risk of developing osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a medical condition that is seen in one out of two women and one out of four men [1]. People diagnosed with osteoporosis have low bone mass and fragile bones that breaks with minor trauma. In women, bone loss is accelerated during menopause and post menopause. However, close to half the trabecular bone is lost in women and men before the age of 50 [2].

Bone formation and resorption are sequestered events involving many different proteins. Bone formation is accomplished by osteoblasts. Osteoblasts differentiate from bone marrow stem cells (mesenchymal stem cells) under the influence of growth factors(insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I)), cytokines (Interleukin (IL) -18 (IL-18)), several transcriptional regulators (homeodomain proteins, surfactant proteins, Runt homology domain transcriptional factors), hormones (estrogen, parathyroid hormone (PTH), vitamin D), prostaglandin E1 (PGE1), on costatin M, adrenomedullin and leptin [3]. Mature osteoblasts first form the collagen matrix and then with the help of osteocalcin start the mineralization process [3]. On the other hand, cells involved in bone resorption, are multinucleated cells called osteoclasts and differentiate from hematopoietic cells. Their differentiation takes place under the influence of several cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, IL-7, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), hormones (PTH, estrogen and vitamin D) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). These cells, dissolve the matrix proteins [4] and release the minerals from the bone leading to cavities and increasing the fragility of the bone [3].

This review focuses on the influence of vitamins on bone health. Articles were collected from Pubmed and Medline databases. The keywords used were: vitamin A and bone, retinoic acid (RA) and bone, vitamin B and bone, thiamine and bone, riboflavin and bone, vitamin B3 and bone, vitamin B5 and bone, vitamin B6 and bone, vitamin B7 and bone, vitamin B9 and bone, vitamin B12 and bone, vitamin C and bone, vitamin E and bone, and vitamin K and bone. As the role of vitamin D on bone health is very well established, this review focuses on the influence of other vitamins on bone strength, bone mineral density (BMD), micro architecture and pathways of bone.

Water Soluble Vitamins

There are two water soluble vitamins – vitamin B complex and vitamin C. Both vitamin B complex and C are not stored in the body and have to be supplemented in the diet regularly. They are absorbed with the help of sodium dependent transporters [5].

Vitamin B complex

B Vitamins are composed of 8 compounds: vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B3 (niacin), vitamin B5 (pantothenic acids), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine, pyridoxal, pyridoxamine), vitamin B7 (biotin), vitamin B9 (folic acid), vitamin B12 (cobalamine) [5]. Off these, thiamine prevented malformations of the palate related to teratogony [6]. Studies on the direct effects of thiamine on bone are lacking. Sources of the different B vitamin are listed in Table 1 [7-9].