Vitamin K Essay

Calcium and Vitamin D have long been the favored micronutrient supplements grouped together to battle osteoporosis despite the well-known roles that vitamin K plays in bone metabolism. The efficacy of supplementation of vitamin k to combat osteoporosis remains debatable due to the conflicting results of various studies. The potential benefits of vitamin k supplementation for aided bone formation and reducing fracture risk are especially important to postmenopausal women due to the fact that they are the largest group with osteoporosis. Since vitamin K is often a minor subject in the topic of preventative measure for osteoporosis, it is necessary to first delve into how exactly it is involved with bones on the molecular level. After focusing on vitamin K in the micro scale, research articles focusing directly on the potential positive effects of vitamin K supplementation in the postmenopausal target range will be analyzed. Following the discussion concentrating solely on vitamin K, the relationships between vitamin k and the other nutrients involved in bone health will be called into question. Regardless of the controversy and debates about supplementing vitamin K, it will be shown to be beneficial for fighting the onset of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

Vitamin K is a fat soluble vitamin that was believed at the time at the time of its discovery to only influence blood coagulation. Since then our knowledge on the vitamin, or group of vitamins, has drastically expanded. It is now known that vitamin K is an important cofactor in the activation of proteins belonging to the gla family (1. Vermeer C. ). Roughly 17 gla proteins have been discovered, among them being prothrombin, osteocalcin, and matrix gla-protein. Pro...

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...on and some research needs to be done to smooth out the edges but the potential for halting osteoporosis is still there. It can often be hard to tell if someone is vitamin K deficient after menopause especially since there is a decrees in osteocalcin carboxylation. The low amount could be from the diet, poor intestine absorption, or maybe even a need for a higher RDA for older populations. There are likely multiple reasons causing the osteoporosis is a person, so removing one of the problems with adequate vitamin K will surely help. There were two studies showing the benefits of Vitamin K1 and K2 as well as the usefulness of a vitamin K supplement in a group package so that it works to its fullest capacity. It has a long way to go but supplementation of Vitamin K1 and K2 have the definite possibility to halt the onset of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.