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Vitamin K1 Supplementation Retards Bone Loss in Postmenopausal Women Between 50 and 60 Years of Age

Calcified Tissue International volume 73, pages 21–26 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

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 K1 supplementation on bone loss have been reported thus far. In the trial presented here we have investigated the potential complementary effect of vitamin K1 (1 mg/day) and a mineral + vitamin D supplement (8 µg/day) on postmenopausal bone loss. The design of our study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled intervention study; 181 healthy postmenopausal women between 50 and 60 years old were recruited, 155 of whom completed the study. During the 3-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 K1 (MDK group). The main outcome was the change in BMD of the femoral neck and lumbar spine after 3 years, as measured by DXA. The group receiving the supplement containing additional vitamin K1 showed reduced bone loss of the femoral neck: after 3 years the difference between the MDK and the placebo group was 1.7% (95% Cl: 0.35–3.44) and that between the MDK and MD group was 1.3% (95% Cl: 0.10–3.41). No significant differences were observed among the three groups with respect to change of BMD at the site of the lumbar spine. If co-administered with minerals and vitamin D, vitamin K1 may substantially contribute to reducing postmenopausal bone loss at the site of the femoral neck.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Novartis Consumer Health SA (Nyon, Switzerland) for their financial support of this study, and the Department of Nuclear Medicine at the University Hospital Maastricht for performing the DXA measurements. The statistical advice of Drs. M. Olesen (Novartis) and Dr. A. Kester (Department of Biostatistics, UM) is gratefully acknowledged. We wish to thank Professor J. Rosing for critically reading this manuscript. This study was supported by Novartis Consumer Health SA (Nyon, Switzerland) and in part by grant # 28-2817 from the Praeventiefonds (Netherlands).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, University of Maastricht, The Netherlands

    L. A. J. L. M. Braam, M. H. J. Knapen & C. Vermeer

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Maastricht, The Netherlands

    P. Geusens & K. Hamulyák

  3. Department of Human Biology, University of Maastricht, The Netherlands

    F. Brouns

  4. Novartis Nutrition Research AG, Switzerland

    M. J. W. Gerichhausen

Authors
  1. L. A. J. L. M. Braam
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  2. M. H. J. Knapen
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  3. P. Geusens
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  4. F. Brouns
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  5. K. Hamulyák
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  6. M. J. W. Gerichhausen
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  7. C. Vermeer
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Correspondence to C. Vermeer.

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Braam, L., Knapen, M., Geusens, P. et al. Vitamin K1 Supplementation Retards Bone Loss in Postmenopausal Women Between 50 and 60 Years of Age . Calcif Tissue Int 73, 21–26 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00223-002-2084-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00223-002-2084-4

Keywords

  • Vitamin K
  • Bone loss
  • Osteoporosis
  • Minerals
  • Vitamin D