| [ Summary ] |
Bone quality is thought to encompass the structural and material properties of bone that are affected by turnover rate. Evidence has accumulated that collagen cross-links play important roles in bone strength. We demonstrated on the quantitative and qualitative deterioration of lysyl oxidase controlled and non-enzymatic cross-links (advanced glycation end products, AGEs, and pentosidine) of collagen in patients with osteoporotic femoral neck fracture cases, which may be affected by hyperhomocysteinemia, oxidative stress or vitamin B6 insufficiency. Recently, Shiraki et al. demonstrated that functional polymorphism in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphism, along with T allele (C677T) polymorphism, may be risk factors for future fractures in addition to traditional risk factors. In addition, we reported that a higher urinary pentosidine level was an independent risk factor, for vertebral fractures, in a 5-year prospective study of Japanese women. If confirmed in large, prospective trials, measurement of serum homocysteine and serum or urinary excretion of pentosidine may be characterized as markers reflecting bone collagen deterioration. |