A New Hope for Stronger Bones in Older Women with Diabetes  

Original Article: https://academic.oup.com/jcem/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1210/clinem/dgae700/7815469?redirectedFrom=fulltext&login=false

How Pyridoxamine May Protect Bone Health

In a study of older postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes (T2D), researchers explored pyridoxamine, a vitamin B6 metabolite, as a potential treatment for improving bone health. Pyridoxamine targets advanced glycation end products (AGEs), compounds linked to weaker bones in T2D patients. After 12 months, the treatment increased a key bone formation marker (P1NP) by 23%, compared to a minor increase in the placebo group. Bone density at the hip (femoral neck) improved significantly, offering a promising strategy to reduce fracture risk in this vulnerable group.  

Additional Benefits Beyond Bone Strength

Besides enhancing bone health, pyridoxamine lowered HbA1c levels, compared to an increase in the placebo group. This suggests pyridoxamine may benefit both bone and metabolic health in T2D patients. Importantly, the treatment was well-tolerated, with no serious side effects directly linked to the medication.  

Further Research Needed 

While the findings are promising, the study’s small sample size and focus on women limit its generalizability. Additionally, the one-year duration may not have been long enough to observe broader effects on AGEs or bone resorption markers. Despite these limitations, the results suggest pyridoxamine could be a groundbreaking approach to addressing bone fragility in T2D patients, warranting larger and longer-term studies to confirm its benefits.