Lee Swanson Research Update

Vitamin K May Help Slow Postmenopausal Bone Loss

January 2004

Vitamin K supplementation retards bone loss in postmenopausal women, according to a study published in 2003.

Researchers in the Department of Biochemistry, University of Maastricht, The Netherlands said, "Although several observational studies have demonstrated an association between vitamin K status and bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women, no placebo-controlled intervention trials of the effect of vitamin K supplementation on bone loss have been reported so far."

In their study, researchers investigated the potential complementary effect of vitamin K (1 mg/day) and a mineral and vitamin D supplement (8 mcg/day) on postmenopausal bone loss.

One hundred eighty-one healthy postmenopausal women between 50 and 60 years old were recruited. Of the 181 women, 155 completed the study. During the three-year treatment period, participants received a daily supplement containing either placebo, or calcium, magnesium, zinc, and vitamin D (MD group) or the same formulation with additional vitamin K (MDK group). The study focused on the bone mineral density of the femoral neck and lumbar spine.

Researchers found that women taking the mineral-supplement combination plus vitamin K had the least bone loss in the femoral neck. No significant differences among the three study groups were found in the BMD of the lumbar spine.

Calcif Tissue Int 73(1):21-26, 2003

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