In 'Nutrition Action' of April 2005, it is reported that there is on-going research at Tufts University and several clinical trials all aimed at determining whether Vitamin K can reduce the risk of hip fracture in a fall.
Does anyone know the results of this work.
Quarryman
PMID 18826451 at http://www.pubmed.gov
Vitamin K1 supplements do not work. Vitamin K2 supplements appear to reduce the risk of spinal fracture.
PMID 18826451 is a study in process. Pay special attention to the last sentence of the abstract:
1: Nutr Rev. 2008 Oct;66(10):549-57. Links
Update on the role of vitamin K in skeletal health.Shea MK, Booth SL.
Vitamin K Laboratory, USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA.
A protective role for vitamin K in bone health has been suggested based on its role as an enzymatic cofactor. In observational studies, vitamin K insufficiency is generally associated with lower bone mass and increased hip fracture risk. However, these findings are not supported in randomized controlled trials (RCT) of phylloquinone (vitamin K(1)) supplementation and bone loss at the hip in the elderly. This suggests that increased vegetable and legume intakes may simultaneously improve measures of vitamin K status and skeletal health, even though the mechanisms underlying these improvements may be independent of each other. Menaquinone-4 (vitamin K(2)), when given at pharmacological doses, appears to protect against fracture risk and bone loss at the spine. However, there are emerging data that suggest the efficacy of vitamin K supplementation on bone loss is inconclusive.
PMID: 18826451 [PubMed - in process]
The question asked by Quarryman referred to fracture risk. The last sentence of the abstract referred to bone loss.
Bone loss increases fracture risk, as implied in this study and others.
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