Fundamental Bone Nutrition: Vitamin K

Specific nutritional influences may improve calcium metabolism and bone formation. Osteoporosis prevention is a major health goal and emphasized by proper nutrition and exercise since low bone mineral density affects millions. The majority of the adults affected due to insufficient exercise and poor intake of a healthy diet, especially adequate vitamins and minerals.

Practitioners and researchers alike are aware that vitamin D, calcium and exercise are essential for maintenance of bone health. Dietary sources and bone health supplementation of other valuable vitamins and minerals include magnesium, silicon, vitamin K2, and boron-all important contributors to bone and joint health.

Specific vitamins receive recommendations for bone health after many years of research. Originally vitamin D was the focus and still critical for proper Calcium utilization and many other health benefits, but now vitamin K2 (menaquinone) is also recognized very important for calcium’s role and effectiveness.

Formerly vitamin K, fat soluble, was mostly emphasized for the synthesis of select proteins in the liver for blood coagulation. The importance of vitamin K for hemostasis is critical and deficiency is a life threatening concern for excessive bleeding.  Prolonged vitamin K deficiency is also an alarm for both cardiovascular, immune and bone health-osteoporosis, atherosclerosis, and cancer are risk factors.

‘Present recommendations for dietary intake are based on the daily dose required to prevent bleeding. Accumulating scientific data suggests that new, higher recommendations for vitamin K intake should be formulated.’