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 .
Response of serum carboxylated and undercarboxylated osteocalcin to alendronate monotherapy and combined therapy with vitamin K2 in postmenopausal women
Alendronate decreases the risk of femoral neck fracture by suppressing bone turnover , and also decreases the serum total osteocalcin level . A low serum carboxylated osteocalcin level or high undercarboxylated osteocalcin level could be risk factors for femoral neck fracture . Vitamin K mediates the carboxylation of osteocalcin , but the effect of alendronate therapy with or without vitamin K2 supplementation remains unknown . Forty-eight postmenopausal women were enrolled in a 1-year prospect i ve r and omized trial and assigned to alendronate monotherapy ( 5 mg/day ) ( group A , n = 26 ) or vitamin K2 ( 45 mg/day ) plus alendronate ( 5 mg/day ) ( group AK , n = 22 ) . Bone mineral density was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at 0 and 12 months ; bone turnover parameters were measured at 0 , 3 , and 12 months . Four patients discontinued alendronate therapy , and we analyzed the remaining 44 patients ( 23 in group A and 21 in group AK ) who completed 1 year of treatment . Alendronate decreased undercarboxylated osteocalcin ; carboxylated osteocalcin was not affected . Addition of vitamin K2 enhanced the decrease of undercarboxylated osteocalcin levels and led to a greater increase of femoral neck bone mineral density .  Alendronate monotherapy does not decrease carboxylation of osteocalcin , and combination of vitamin K2 and alendronate brings further benefits on both osteocalcin carboxylation and BMD of femoral neck in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis
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 .