You are more likely to experience a hip fracture if you take high doses of B6 and B12, according to a new study. The study's findings were originally published in the JAMA Network Open.
Women over 50 should be taking 1.5 milligrams (mg) a day of B6 under U.S. dietary guidelines. Meanwhile, girls from 14 onwards should get 2.4 daily micrograms of B12.
For the study, the team monitored 76,000 female nurses in the United States for almost 21 years. They also conducted dietary surveys for almost four years. Data from the study revealed most of the women were getting more than the recommended amount of B6 and B12 through foods or supplements.
During the study, 2,300 women had hip fractures and more than half of them experienced one before they turned 76. Women whose daily intake of these vitamins was the highest were more likely to experience a hip fracture.
“Many people take supplements without clear indications, and high dose vitamin supplements are readily available in drug stores and on the internet,”lead study author Dr Haakon Meyer of the University of Oslo in Norway told a news portal. Adding, “Our results add to other reports suggesting that high-dose vitamin supplementation can lead to unexpected adverse effects."
Meyer further explained: “Normal intakes of these vitamins, corresponding to recommended dietary allowances, were not associated with increased fracture risk.”
More research is needed to better understand this link. For now, researchers urge women to consult with their doctors before taking any vitamins.
“Women should seek their primary care provider’s advice on whether to take a vitamin B supplement,” Dr Karen Hansen, a researcher at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health in Madison, told a news portal. Adding, “If the provider documents a vitamin deficiency, then a supplement is clearly warranted."
Hansen further explained:“However, in the absence of a documented deficiency, (several) studies collectively suggest that vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 will not improve skeletal health, and might even be harmful.”
Previous research suggests these vitamins could reduce the risk of heart disease. Vitamin B6 helps the body maintain a healthy metabolism and immune system. Meat, fish, chickpeas, potatoes and starchy vegetables contain loads of this vitamin. Meanwhile, vitamin B12 helps make red blood cells in the body. You'll find this vitamin in fish, meat, eggs and dairy products.
Another study also found vitamin B could increase the risk of lung cancer in men. "In fact, all men who used these supplements in high doses for a decade had approximately double the risk developing lung cancer, and in men who smoked, the risk was three to four times as great," lead author of the study Dr Theodore Brasky, of The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Centre told a news portal.
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