Vitamin K supports bone health, including in older people. Due to activation of osteocalcin protein. Deficiency increases the risk of fracture. The research was published in the journal nutrients.
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for the blood clotting system. It also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. In a new review, scientists examined studies linking vitamin K and bone health.
The main role of vitamin K in supporting ongoing bone regeneration is to activate the protein osteocalcin. Therefore, vitamin K deficiency increases the risk of fractures. Experiments in ovariectomized mice confirmed that vitamin K supplementation increased the concentration of activated osteocalcin.
Vitamin K can be obtained from foods: rich in green vegetables, lettuce, rapeseed, olives, soybeans, natto beans, pork and cheese. Natto bean consumption was associated with higher blood concentrations of vitamin K and higher bone mineral density at the hip and femoral neck. This may indicate a reduced risk of severe osteoporosis and hip fracture in older adults with adequate vitamin K intake.
Some studies suggest that current vitamin K intake recommendations are inadequate to support bone health, so more clinical research is needed.
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