Vitamin K is thought to be important for bone health because it activates several proteins
involved in bone formation. Poor dietary intake of vitamin K (mainly found in dark green
leafy vegetables) is associated with bone loss and fractures. Giving supplements of the main
dietary form of vitamin K (called K1) or another common form which our bodies make from
K1(called MK4), to improve bone health have given mixed results. This confusion is thought to
have arisen because these studies involved people who already had enough vitamin K or did not
have osteoporosis. We want to test the hypothesis that treatment with bisphosphonates
combined with vitamin K, in vitamin K deplete elderly women with osteoporosis, may offer
additional benefit on skeletal metabolism and reduction of fracture risk. We want to test
this by measuring vitamin K status in post-menopausal women with osteoporosis who are on the
recommended treatment with a bisphosphonate and calcium/vitamin D supplements. Those with low
vitamin K will then be recruited to study the effect of supplementation with either K1 or
MK4.
Phase:
Phase 2/Phase 3
Details
Lead Sponsor:
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
Treatments:
Menatetrenone Vitamin K Vitamin K 1 Vitamin K 2 Vitamins