title: The effect of vitamin K and D supplementation on ovariectomy-induced bone loss.
abstract: This study was designed to assess the effect of vitamin K and D supplementation on ovariectomy-induced bone loss. Female Sprague-Dawley rats aged 8-9 months were ovariectomized (OVX) or sham operated and divided into five experimental groups: (1) ovariectomy (OVX), (2) OVX plus vitamin K supplementation, (3) OVX plus vitamin D supplementation, (4) OVX plus vitamin K and vitamin D supplementation, and (5) sham operation. The trabecular bone area was estimated by bone histomorphometry by microradiography and histological examination. Bone loss in OVX plus vitamin K and vitamin D group was significantly reduced at both 7 and 14 weeks compared with the OVX group. No significant bone loss in OVX plus vitamin K or OVX plus vitamin D groups was found. A similar effect of vitamin K and D supplementation on ovariectomy-induced bone loss was recognized in histological examination. Our findings indicate that vitamins K and D may have a synergistic effect on reducing bone loss. This is valuable information for the treatment of bone loss in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima, 890, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsunaga
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D010052:Ovariectomy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013977:Tibia; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols; D014812:Vitamin K; C008088:alfacalcidol