Vitamin K2 shown to reduce bone fractures in children

The finding was considered all the more important as there had been a “disturbing growth”​ in the number of low-energy bone fractures in these age groups, according to the report published in The Journal of the American College of Nutrition​.

Insufficient nutrition and nutrients​

While there were multiple risk factors, deficient or insufficient nutrition and nutrients, including calcium, vitamin D and vitamin K were among leading considerations, said Dr Vladimir Badmaev, author of the paper.

Badmaev led an international research consortium in the US and Poland to review the expansive body of research (epidemiological and human clinical) on the environmental and nutritional factors that contribute to children’s bone health.

Biological roles​

It also looked at the mechanisms and biological roles by which nutrients contribute to bone health in children and young adults, and the status of nutrient deficiency.

The particular role of vitamin K2, especially menaquinone-7, was shown to be distinguished from vitamin K1 in maintaining calcium homeostasis and a healthy skeletal system.

“The research provides a new nutritional paradigm for the safe delivery of calcium with both fat-soluble vitamins D and K,”​ Badmaev said.