Osteoporosis: Can Vitamin K Help Save the Day?

By Justin Wiggins
Postmenopausal women may have a little less reason to worry about osteoporosis, a degenerative disorder characterized by low bone mass, which leads to an increase of fractures, especially in the hips, spine, and wrist. A new study suggests that vitamin K may have bone-boosting potential.
Calcium plus vitamin D-enriched dairy enhances bone mineral density. Once Vitamin K1 or K2 is added to the formulation, there are increases in levels of osteocalcin, a vitamin K-dependent protein that is essential for the body to utilize calcium in bone tissue.  If the body is not getting enough vitamin K, osteocalcin levels can drop, becoming ineffective.
Vitamin K is available in two forms; vitamin K1 and vitamin K2. Vitamin K1 can be found in green leafy vegetables like lettuce, broccoli and spinach. Vitamin K2 can be found in animal meat and fermented food products like cheese and yogurt.
Researchers from Harokopio University in Greece conducted a study that investigated the effects of dairy enriched providing 800 mg per day of calcium and 10 micrograms per day of vitamin D3, with or without the addition of 100 micrograms per day of either K1 or K2.
After 12 months of the study, researchers found that only the women who consumed the vitamin K-enriched products had significant increases in bone mineral density in their vertebrae and the lower back (lumbar spine).
Over 75 million people suffer from osteoporosis in the US, Europe and Japan, and women are four times more likely to develop it than men. For this reason, it is important that studies like this occur in order to help provide clues for reducing the risk of osteoporosis. Steps taken now with diet or supplements are always steps in the right direction, that can lead towards lowering that number.