However, the daily recommended dose of Vitamin K supplements does offer protection against fracture and cancer
define in these women, according to a new study published in the October issue of the journal ‘PLoS Medicine’.
The two-year-long study called "Evaluate the Clinical use of vitamin K Supplementation in Postmenopausal Women with Osteopenia" (ECKO) was undertaken by the researchers at the University Of Toronto, Canada.
The team led by Dr. Angela Cheung, researcher at the Toronto's University Health Network enrolled 440 postmenopausal women diagnosed with osteopenia.
The participants were randomly assigned to receive either a 5 mg once-daily dose of Vitamin K or a placebo. They were observed for two years. Of them, 261 women enrolled themselves for extended study that required taking treatment for two additional years.
Bone density scans after two years and after four years revealed no significant difference in bone mineral density between the two groups, researchers highlighted.
However, 9 women who took Vitamin K over the four-year period reportedly suffered fractures as compared to 20 in the placebo group. Similarly, fewer women developed cancer (3 vs. 12 women) during the study period, compared to placebo-treated women.
The active treatment was also well tolerated by women with no significant difference in adverse health effects between the treatment and placebo groups.
Despite the positives, researchers insist that the results of the study should be interpreted cautiously. “Women should not start taking vitamin K supplements to reduce their fracture or cancer risk,” Cheung cautioned.
Instead, people should ensure that they get enough Vitamin D (it promotes calcium absorption which aids bone growth and strengthening) such as eggs, butter, margarine, cheese, fish liver oils, milk and fortified cereals. Vitamin K is found mainly in green leafy vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and chick peas.
Osteopenia, a medical condition wherein the bone mineral density is lower than normal is often considered a precursor to osteoporosis. Though, not all diagnosed with osteopenia will develop osteoporosis, the chances of proceeding are significantly high. Statistically, osteopenia is defined as a bone mineral density T score between -1.0 and -2.5.
Like osteoporosis, osteopenia occurs more frequently in post-menopausal women as a result of the loss of estrogen. Though most common in post-menopausal women, the condition can inflict men too.
The condition exacerbates by lifestyle factors such as lack of exercise, excess consumption of alcohol, smoking and prolonged use of glucocorticoid medications.
An estimated 10 million Americans suffer from the weak bone disease, osteoporosis, and 18 million are diagnosed positive for osteopenia.
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