Vitamin K Supports Bone Health
In March 2013, a clinical trial reported that vitamin K may help prevent bone loss in post-menopausal women. Of the 10 million Americans currently diagnosed with osteoporosis, 80 percent are women.
The subjects included 244 healthy post-menopausal women. The subjects received 180 mcg of vitamin K2 (menaquinone-7) daily or a placebo for three years. The researchers evaluated the subjects at the beginning of the study and again annually during the study period. The investigators used dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to assess bone mineral density of the lumbar spine (low back), total hip and femoral (thigh) neck and vertebral fractures. The researchers also measured uncarboxylated osteocalcin and carboxylated osteocalcin (protein secreted from bone-forming cells) and used the ratio as a marker of vitamin K status.
The investigators found that vitamin K2 supplementation resulted in improved vitamin K status and decreased the age-related decline in bone mineral content and bone mineral density at the lumbar spine and femoral neck. In addition, vitamin K2 supplementation improved bone strength and significantly decreased the loss in vertebral height of the lower thoracic region at the mid-site of the vertebrae.
The researchers concluded, “Menaquinone-7 supplements may help postmenopausal women to prevent bone loss. Whether these results can be extrapolated to other populations, e.g., children and men, needs further investigation.”
Reference:
Knapen MH, et al. Osteoporos Int. 2013 Mar 23.
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