A longitudinal study of the effect of vitamin K2 on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women a comparative study with vitamin D3 and estrogen–progestin therapy

Iwamoto, Ichiro; Kosha, Shoichiro; Noguchi, Shin-ichi; Murakami, Masato; Fujino, Toshinori; Douchi, Tsutomu; Nagata, Yukihiro

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Volume 31, Issue 2 , Pages 161-164, 4 January 1999

A longitudinal study of the effect of vitamin K₂ on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women a comparative study with vitamin D₃ and estrogen–progestin therapy

Ichiro Iwamoto
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +81-99-2755423; fax: +81-99-2650507
Shoichiro Kosha
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan
Shin-ichi Noguchi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan
Masato Murakami
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan
Toshinori Fujino
- School of Allied Medical Sciences, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan
Tsutomu Douchi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan
Yukihiro Nagata
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan

Received 18 May 1998; received in revised form 25 November 1998; accepted 25 November 1998.

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the effect of vitamin K₂ treatment for a year on spinal bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women, comparing with vitamin D₃ hormone replacement therapy and to determine the factors which affect the efficacy of vitamin K₂ therapy. Subjects and methods: Seventy-two postmenopausal women were randomized into four groups and treated with respective agents. Before the therapy, 6 and 12 months after the treatment, their lumbar spine BMD were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. The rates of change in BMD (ΔBMD) were calculated. Correlations of BMD with age, year since menopause and the initial BMD were determined. Results: Vitamin K₂ suppressed the decrease in spinal BMD as compared with no treatment group. BMD in women treated with vitamin K₂ was inversely correlated with their age (r=−0.54; P<0.05). Conclusions: Vitamin K₂ therapy may be a useful method for preventing postmenopausal spinal bone mineral loss. In addition, the therapy should be started early in postmenopausal period.