Summary Vitamin K may affect  bone mineral density and fracture incidence .
Since publication of a previous systematic review the integrity of some of the previous evidence has been question ed and further trials have been published .
Introduction This systematic review was design ed to assess the effectiveness of oral vitamin K supplementation for increasing bone mineral density  and reducing fractures in adults .
Menatetrenone versus alfacalcidol in the treatment of Chinese postmenopausal women with osteoporosis: a multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, double-dummy, positive drug-controlled clinical trial
Objective To evaluate whether the efficacy and safety of menatetrenone for the treatment of osteoporosis is noninferior to alfacalcidol in Chinese postmenopausal women . Method This multicenter , r and omized , double-blinded , double-dummy , noninferiority , positive drug-controlled clinical trial was conducted in five Chinese sites . Eligible Chinese women with postmenopausal osteoporosis ( N=236 ) were r and omized to Group M or Group A and received menatetrenone 45 mg/day or alfacalcidol 0.5 μg/day , respectively , for 1 year . Additionally , all patients received calcium 500 mg/day . Posttreatment bone mineral density ( BMD ) , new fracture onsets , and serum osteocalcin ( OC ) and undercarboxylated OC ( ucOC ) levels were compared with the baseline value in patients of both groups . Results A total of 213 patients ( 90.3 % ) completed the study . After 1 year of treatment , BMD among patients in Group M significantly increased from baseline by 1.2 % and 2.7 % at the lumbar spine and trochanter , respectively ( P<0.001 ) ; and the percentage increase of BMD in Group A was 2.2 % and 1.8 % , respectively ( P<0.001 ) . No difference was observed between groups . There were no changes in femoral neck BMD in both groups . Two patients ( 1.9 % , 2/108 ) in Group M and four patients ( 3.8 % , 4/105 ) in Group A had new fracture onsets ( P>0.05 ) . In Group M , OC and ucOC decreased from baseline by 38.7 % and 82.3 % , respectively ( P<0.001 ) . In Group A , OC and ucOC decreased by 25.8 % and 34.8 % , respectively ( P<0.001 ) . Decreases in serum OC and ucOC were more obvious in Group M than in Group A ( P<0.001 ) . The safety profile of menatetrenone was similar to alfacalcidol . Conclusion Menatetrenone is an effective and safe choice in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis in Chinese women
Summary Vitamin K may affect  bone mineral density and fracture incidence .
Since publication of a previous systematic review the integrity of some of the previous evidence has been question ed and further trials have been published .
Introduction This systematic review was design ed to assess the effectiveness of oral vitamin K supplementation for increasing bone mineral density  and reducing fractures in adults .