Associations between vitamin K biochemical measures and bone mineral density in men and women.
Few data exist on the association between vitamin K status and bone mineral density (BMD) in men and women of varying ages. We examined cross-sectional associations between biochemical measures of vitamin K status and BMD at the hip and spine in 741 men and 863 women (mean age, 59 yr; range, 32-86 yr) who participated in the Framingham Heart Study (1996-2000). Vitamin K status was assessed by plasma phylloquinone and percentage undercarboxylated osteocalcin (%ucOC). Among the men, low plasma phylloquinone concentrations adjusted for triglycerides and elevated serum %ucOC levels were associated with low BMD at the femoral neck (P = 0.03 and 0.009, respectively). Among postmenopausal women not using estrogen replacements, low plasma phylloquinone concentrations were associated with low spine BMD (P = 0.007), with a nonsignificant trend of an elevated serum %ucOC with low spine BMD (P = 0.08). In contrast, there were no significant associations between biochemical measures of vitamin K and BMD in either premenopausal women or postmenopausal women using estrogen replacements. Clinical trials are required to isolate any putative effects of vitamin K on rates of bone loss. The target population in these trials, particularly in regard to estrogen use, may be critical, as suggested by the findings of this study.
Booth
Sarah L
SL
Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, USA. sarah.booth@tufts.edu <sarah.booth@tufts.edu>
Broe
Kerry E
KE
Peterson
James W
JW
Cheng
Debbie M
DM
Dawson-Hughes
Bess
B
Gundberg
Caren M
CM
Cupples
L Adrienne
LA
Wilson
Peter W F
PW
Kiel
Douglas P
DP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015519:Bone Density; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005272:Femur Neck; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood; D017698:Postmenopause; D017697:Premenopause; D012737:Sex Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D010837:Vitamin K 1 / Q000097:blood*
D014280:Triglycerides; D015675:Osteocalcin; D010837:Vitamin K 1