Vitamin K2 improves bone health in older women

Vitamin K2 improves bone health in older women

The vitamin supplement MK-7 also known as reduces bone loss and improves bone impact strength in postmenopausal women. 244 postmenopausal women were enrolled in the study. They were randomly given inactive placebo or Vitamin K2 as MK7, 180mcg per day for three years. The Vitamin K2 produced significant improvements in bone mineral density and bone mineral content compared to placebo. The Vitamin improved bone strength in both the lumbar spine and the hip. Clinically relevant improvements in bone strength were apparent at the two-year mark.

There are two natural forms of Vitamin K; Vitamin K1 and Vitamin K2. Vitamin K1 (aka phylloquinone or phytonadione) is found in green leafy vegetables and it accounts for 90% of the Vitamin K intake in US adults. Vitamin K2 (aka menaquinones) is made by the healthy Probiotic bacteria in our intestines or by fermenting certain foods. The Vitamin K2 family consists of different menaquinones including MK4 (found in meat), MK-7, MK-8 and MK-9; these three are found in fermented foods such as natto, a fermented soybean food, or are found in certain cheeses such as Gouda. The study is published in the March 2013 issue of the journal Osteoporosis Internationl.

The following is a study previously published on our website;

Vitamin K1 intake is associated with stronger-denser bones with less bone resorption in early postmenopausal Scottish women

Researchers measured bone mineral density at the lumbar spine and femoral neck (where the hip generally fractures) in a group of Scottish women aged 49–54 years in 1990–1994 and again in 1997–2000. Those women with the lowest vitamin K1 intake (the lowest 25%) had thinner bones (lower bone mineral density) in the lumbar spine but especially at the femoral neck. The study is published in the May 2008 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.