Nutrients for Bone Health

CAPTION: Nutrients for Bone Health

Calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin K2 help maintain bone mineral density to keep bones strong and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

Researchers investigated the effects of vitamin K2 on age-related bone deterioriation in 148 post-menopausal women with osteopaenia (bone weakness) who were also taking calcium and vitamin D.

After 12 months of supplementation, significant changes in bone health in the tibia were seen. Trabecular spacing was unchanged in the vitamin K2 group (maintaining bone health) but increased in the placebo group (a sign of osteoporotic bone change).

Other markers indicated that bone-forming cells were hard at work. Those taking all three nutrients had reduced serum levels of uncarboxylated osteocalcin (by >70%), reduced uncarboxylated osteocalcin to total osteocalcin ratio (by >60%) and increased bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (by 5%).

These findings suggest that vitamin K2, together with calcium and vitamin D, helps preserve bone structure at the tibia, reducing age-related bone loss.

[1] Rønn SH, Harsløf T, Pedersen SB, Langdahl BL. Vitamin K2 (menaquinone-7) prevents age-related deterioration of trabecular bone microarchitecture at the tibia in postmenopausal women. Eur J Endocrinol. 2016 Dec;175(6):541-549. doi: 10.1530/EJE-16-0498

[2] Mayo Clinic Laboratories. Bone alkaline phosphatase, serum [Internet]. Rochester: Mayo Clinic Laboratories; 2023 [cited 2023 Jul 18].