Can Vitamin K Help Prevent Osteoporosis?

You can find vitamin K in super foods, and did you know, that just 1 serving of wheatgrass juice will give you 50% of your recommended daily amount? Other great sources are maca powder, spirulina and barley grass powder.

Our body is constantly changing, every minute of every day old cells are dying and at the same time, are being replaced by new healthy cells. Even our bones, which seem so solid, are constantly breaking down and being replaced. The problem is, as we get older, as the years go by, this process of making new bones becomes slower and slower. Over time it can lead to bone loss and progress to osteoporosis.

However, a new study's found that taking vitamin K actually prevents bone loss in postmenopausal women, and it was published in Calcified Tissue International.

The study looked at 173 postmenopausal women who free of osteoporosis and in good health. The study's results indicated that vitamin K could play an important roll in keeping bones strong.

The study's control groups were found to have a decrease in bone mineral density and also when compared to the women taking vitamin K, and also had higher levels of urine and blood markers for bone turnover. The women who were taking vitamin K actually an increase in their bone mineral density.

The study's authors said, "The present study revealed more favourable changes in bone metabolism and bone mass indices for the vitamin K supplemented groups"

Traditionally, vitamin K has been thought important for its part in blood clotting. Now with this latest research, it's roll has been widened to include both heart and bone health.

Finding your vitamin from the food you eat

The researchers concluded that whatever forms or programmes of osteoporosis-prevention that are being followed, they're likely to be more effective if they include vitamin K. And the good news is, there are lots of super foods that contain it.

Vitamin K comes in two forms. K1 and K2. Vitamin K1 is produced by plant sources and is found in foods like maca powder, wheatgrass powder, and spirulina.

Vitamin K2 is found in foods that are derived from animal products, such as yoghurt, hard cheese and eggs.

     By David Morris