Vitamin K bone density in Osteoporosis

A study by Japanese researches found that " high does of vitamin K [in] postmenopausal women for 24 and 48 week doses significantly increase bone mass compared to women treated with a placebo."

Source: Orinmo, H; Shiraki,M fujita, T; Onomura, T; InoueamdLisjoda, K. 1992. "Clincial evaluation of menatetrenome in the treatment of involuiontal osteoporosis:a double-blind multicenter compariative study with lahydroxy vitamin D." J. Bone Miner. Res. 7 (Suppl. 1) S122

There are several other studies that seem to indicate this vitamin has a positive effect on bone formation in postmenopausal women.

For example: A study by done by Vermeer, M H Knapen, and L J Schurger that was published in 1998 states:
"it was shown that administration of 1-10 mg of Vitamin K is paralleled by a moderate increase in the serum markers for bone formation (osteocalcin and bone alkaline phosphatase), or by a slight decrease in the urinary hydroxyproline exceretion ( a marker for bone resorption), and by a reduction of uniary calcium loss. Most prominent effects were obtained in fast losers of calcium."

Sources: Kaspen,JHJ, Hamulyik K, Vermeer, C. The effect of vitamin K supplemtation on circulating ostecalcin (bone GLA-protein) and urinary calcium excretion. Ann. Intern Med 1989; III: 1001-5.

Knapen, MHJ, Jie, K-SG, Hamulyik, K et al. Vitamin K induced changes in markeers forosteoblast activity and urinary calcium loss. Calcif Tissue Int. 1993; 53 81-5.

As a result of these studies, a number of calcium supplements, such as Advacal Ultra have included it among their ingredients. Other companies package it by itself. You can find these among the supplements in drug stores and health food stores.

However, since this vitamin is aids the clotting of blood, persons taking waferin or other blood thinning substances need to speak with their health care before adding it to their diet since it could interfere with their blood thinning medication. Such consultation is important and should not be neglected.

It is seldom that real deficiencies are seen. Defieiencies usually occur because of poor diet or an inability to absorb it in the intestinal tract.

Deficiency can also occur after prolonged treatment with oral antibiotics so those with persistent lyme disease or other infections being treated with antibiotics could be subjects of a defficiency. Those who are deficient tend to bruise easily or bleed a good deal when cut.

Medline Plus, an Internet site provided by the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health advocates getting sufficient amounts through a healthy diet. Some of the best sources are cabbage, cauliflower, spinach and other green leafy vegetables. Cereals, soybeans, and other vegetables are also sources. It also can be made by the bacteria that line the gastrointestinal tract.

Although this vitamin has been shown to be effective in reducing hip fractures among the elderly, it is not a good idea to self diagnose and start taking unregulated supplements in doses of one's own devising.

The studies of postmenopausal women cited at the opening of this article were all supervised studies. If you are considering adding Vitamin K to your diet, it is best to do this naturally.

Scientific studies

As noted on the special calcium for Osteoporosis page, Osteoporosis does not occur right after menopause in Japan as it does in the United States and Canada. In Japan most of those with serious bone loss are elderly. And in keeping with other parts of the Japanese health care system, there is an emphasis on natural supplements rather than synthetic drugs.

Katsuyama H, Sunami S, Fukunaga M."Influence of nutrients intake on bone turnover markers." Clin Calcium. 2005 Sep;15(9):1529-34

Bone strength is determined by bone mineral density and bone quality. Bone quality can be assessed by only bone turnover markers. Nutrients that reduce bone resorption markers are calcium and isoflavone, nutrients that increase bone formation markers are vitamin C, vitamin D and vitamin K. These nutrients affect bone turnover and, as a result, improve bone density. These nutrients might contribute to prevent the incidence of osteoporosis when they are taken from adolescence.________________
Katsuyama H, Ideguchi S, Fukunaga M, Fukunaga T, Saijoh K, Sunami S. "Promotion of bone formation by fermented soybean (Natto) intake in premenopausal women." J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2004 Apr;50(2):114-20.

A therapeutic agent of vitamin K2 is approved for the treatment of osteoporosis in Japan. However, little is known about the efficacy of dietary intake of vitamin K2 for bone health. We compared the effects of various levels of fermented soybeans (Natto) intake, which contains plenty of vitamin K2, on bone stiffness and bone turnover markers in healthy premenopausal women. Seventy-three healthy premenopausal women were randomly divided into four groups matched for age and parity categories. Natto was supplied as follows: Group 1 (no intake), Group 2 (once per month), Group 3 (once per week) and Group 4 (three times per week). Subjects took Natto at a lunch for 1 y, and the stiffness index by quantitative ultrasound and bone turnover markers were assessed at baseline, 6 mo and 1 y. There was no statistical difference in the stiffness index during the 1 y observation. However, bone specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) in Group 4 was higher than that in Group 3 at 1 y and undercarboxylated osteocalcin (Glu) in Group 4 was significantly lower than those in Groups 1, 2 and 3 at 6 mo. Logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of reduction of bone formation markers declined to 0.07 in Group 4 based on that in Group 1. In premenopausal women who had to keep the stiffness index as high as possible before menopause, Natto intake may have contributed to the promotion of bone formation.

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Adams J, Pepping J. "Vitamin K in the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis and arterial calcification." Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2005 Aug 1;62(15):1574-81 (Hawaii)

SUMMARY: Vitamin K is essential for the activation of vitamin K-dependent proteins, which are involved not only in blood coagulation but in bone metabolism and the inhibition of arterial calcification. In humans, vitamin K is primarily a cofactor in the enzymatic reaction that converts glutamate residues into gamma-carboxyglutamate residues in vitamin K-dependent proteins. Numerous studies have demonstrated the importance of vitamin K in bone health. The results of recent studies have suggested that concurrent use of menaquinone and vitamin D may substantially reduce bone loss. Menaquinone was also found to have a synergistic effect when administered with hormone therapy. Several epidemiologic and intervention studies have found that vitamin K deficiency causes reductions in bone mineral density and increases the risk of fractures. Arterial calcification is an active, cell-controlled process that shares many similarities with bone metabolism. Concurrent arterial calcification and osteoporosis have been called the "calcification paradox" and occur frequently in postmenopausal women. The results of two dose-response studies have indicated that the amount of vitamin K needed for optimal gamma-carboxylation of osteocalcin is significantly higher than what is provided through diet alone and that current dosage recommendations should be increased to optimize bone mineralization. Few adverse effects have been reported from oral vitamin K. CONCLUSION: Phytonadione and menaquinone may be effective for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and arterial calcification

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Iinuma N."Vitamin K2 (menatetrenone) and bone quality." Clin Calcium. 2005 Jun;15(6):1034-9.

Vitamin K2 (menatetrenone) treatment was reported to significantly prevent new clinical fracture (chi2 = 10.935;p = 0.0273) in a 2-year group comparison study of patients with osteoporosis, although it only maintained the baseline bone mineral density. This result strongly suggested that another factor was involved in promoting bone strength apart from an increase in bone mineral density. With respect to the therapeutic effect of menatetrenone treatment on corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis over 2 years, the incidence of a new vertebral fracture was 13.3% in the menatetrenone treatment group versus 41% in the control group, indicating that this treatment could prevent fractures. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate independent risk factors for new vertebral fractures, and treatment with menatetrenone showed a preventive effect on fracture with an odds ratio of 0.03 and a risk rate of 0.003.

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Ichikawa T, Inoue S.[Molecular mechanisms of vitamin K action in the bone homeostasis] Clin Calcium. 2005 May;15(5):839-44.

Vitamin K is used as an anti-osteoporosis drug in Japan. Moreover, vitamin K intake has been found to decrease hip fracture risk. In the bone homeostasis, vitamin K action is mediated through two molecular mechanisms: posttranslational modification of proteins, and regulation of gene expression. The former is vitamin K-dependent carboxylation, in which vitamin K functions as an essential cofactor for modification of glutamic acid residues to gamma-carboxyglutamic acid residues. The latter is a novel mechanism that regulates the transcription of target genes by vitamin K through activation of steroid and xenobiotic receptor (SXR). The two mechanisms may coordinately contribute to vitamin K function in the bone metabolism. Keep up with the latest research about Osteopenia. Enjoy timely tips and hints for improving your bone density. Subscribe to the free monthly Osteopenia3 Newsletter.