kebaldwin
Mon, Jul-23-07, 13:35
July 23, 2007
Supplementing with vitamin K2 improves bone strength
The July, 2007 issue of Osteoporosis International reported the finding of researchers at the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands that postmenopausal women given vitamin K2 experienced improvements in hip bone geometry and bone strength. Bone quality declines among many women following menopause, leading to osteoporosis and increased fracture risk.
M. H. J. Knapen, L. J. Schurgers, and C. Vermeer randomized 325 women between the ages of 55 and 75 to receive 45 milligrams vitamin K2 in three divided doses per day or a placebo for three years. Bone mineral density, bone mineral content, and hip geometry, which is a measure of the size and thickness of the bone, were assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry before and after the treatment period, and compression, bending, and impact strength were calculated. Blood and urine were analyzed for markers of bone resorption and formation before and after treatment.
Two hundred fifty-seven women completed the study. Although bone mineral density was not improved by vitamin K2 supplementation, bone mineral content and femoral upper neck width remained the same in the group that received vitamin K2 indicating maintenance of bone strength, while among women who received the placebo bone strength declined significantly. The benefit associated with vitamin K2 was found for younger as well as older postmenopausal women. Markers of bone formation were higher in the vitamin K group compared to placebo after one year of treatment, and remained the same for the rest of the study.
Noting that the high doses of vitamin K2 used in the study were associated with only minor adverse effects that did not differ from the placebo group, the authors conclude that "it seems desirable to evaluate the cost-benefits of supplementing low dose vitamin K2 to all postmenopausal women."
—D Dye
http://www.lef.org/whatshot/index.html#swvk
Supplementing with vitamin K2 improves bone strength
The July, 2007 issue of Osteoporosis International reported the finding of researchers at the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands that postmenopausal women given vitamin K2 experienced improvements in hip bone geometry and bone strength. Bone quality declines among many women following menopause, leading to osteoporosis and increased fracture risk.
M. H. J. Knapen, L. J. Schurgers, and C. Vermeer randomized 325 women between the ages of 55 and 75 to receive 45 milligrams vitamin K2 in three divided doses per day or a placebo for three years. Bone mineral density, bone mineral content, and hip geometry, which is a measure of the size and thickness of the bone, were assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry before and after the treatment period, and compression, bending, and impact strength were calculated. Blood and urine were analyzed for markers of bone resorption and formation before and after treatment.
Two hundred fifty-seven women completed the study. Although bone mineral density was not improved by vitamin K2 supplementation, bone mineral content and femoral upper neck width remained the same in the group that received vitamin K2 indicating maintenance of bone strength, while among women who received the placebo bone strength declined significantly. The benefit associated with vitamin K2 was found for younger as well as older postmenopausal women. Markers of bone formation were higher in the vitamin K group compared to placebo after one year of treatment, and remained the same for the rest of the study.
Noting that the high doses of vitamin K2 used in the study were associated with only minor adverse effects that did not differ from the placebo group, the authors conclude that "it seems desirable to evaluate the cost-benefits of supplementing low dose vitamin K2 to all postmenopausal women."
—D Dye
http://www.lef.org/whatshot/index.html#swvk