OBJECTIVE: To assess growing evidence that vitamin K (phylloquinone) plays an important role in bone health and, subsequently, in prevention of osteoporotic fractures. QUALITY OF EVIDENCE: We searched MEDLINE from January 1972 to December 2002 using the key words vitamin K and bone health. We reviewed 30 articles that seemed relevant or had a human focus. All evidence can be categorized as level II. MAIN MESSAGE: Evidence suggests that dietary phylloquinone intake of <100 microg daily might not be optimal for bone health. Low intake of vitamin K could contribute to osteoporosis and subsequent fracture due to the undercarboxylation of osteocalcin. CONCLUSION: Family physicians need to be aware of the importance of encouraging adequate vitamin K intake, particularly among institutionalized elderly people, to prevent increased bone resorption. Further study is needed to determine the exact role of vitamin K in bone metabolism, and methods of assessing vitamin K requirements need to be standardized.
OBJECTIVE: To assess growing evidence that vitamin K (phylloquinone) plays an important role in bone health and, subsequently, in prevention of osteoporotic fractures. QUALITY OF EVIDENCE: We searched MEDLINE from January 1972 to December 2002 using the key words vitamin K and bone health. We reviewed 30 articles that seemed relevant or had a human focus. All evidence can be categorized as level II. MAIN MESSAGE: Evidence suggests that dietary phylloquinone intake of <100 microg daily might not be optimal for bone health. Low intake of vitamin K could contribute to osteoporosis and subsequent fracture due to the undercarboxylation of osteocalcin. CONCLUSION: Family physicians need to be aware of the importance of encouraging adequate vitamin K intake, particularly among institutionalized elderly people, to prevent increased bone resorption. Further study is needed to determine the exact role of vitamin K in bone metabolism, and methods of assessing vitamin K requirements need to be standardized.
Authors: S L Booth; K L Tucker; H Chen; M T Hannan; D R Gagnon; L A Cupples; P W Wilson; J Ordovas; E J Schaefer; B Dawson-Hughes; D P Kiel Journal: Am J Clin Nutr Date: 2000-05 Impact factor: 7.045