The combination effect of vitamin K and vitamin D on human bone quality: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Food and Nutrition March 2020 https://doi.org/10.1039/C9FO03063H
Xiaotong Kuang, Chunxiao Liu, Xiao-fei Guo, Kelei Li, Qingxue Deng and Duo Li
Items in both categories Vitamin K and Bone are listed here:
- Bone increased : Stiffness (Vitamin D), Flexibility (Vitamin K2) – Sept 2020
- Bone quality improved 2X by Vitamin D plus Vitamin K2 (trend) – meta-analysis March 2020
- Vitamin D and Calcium do not increase bone density (also need exercise, Mg, K2, protein etc.) – RCT Aug 2019
- Vitamin K (any amount and any kind) reduced bone fractures by 24 percent – meta-analysis – May 2019
- Calcium Supplementation is OK provided you also take Vitamin K – Feb 2019
- Hard bones, soft arteries, rather than vice versa (Vitamin D and Vitamin K) – March 2016
- Many seniors do not get enough protein, Vitamin D, Mg, etc. needed for bones – Feb 2019
- Adding just vitamin D again failed to add bone density (also need Magnesium, Vitamin K, etc) – RCT Aug 2018
- Osteocalcin – overview of the hormone needed to build bones, etc. Jan 2018
- Vitamin K and bone – review Oct 2017
- Bone formation in the lab is aided by Vitamin D, Vitamin K1, and Vitamin K2 – meta-analysis Nov 2017
- Better bones again associated with higher vitamin K intake – Nov 2015
- Vitamin K-2 – bone biomarkers indicate at least 600 ug of MK-4 are needed daily – Sept 2014
- Vitamin K2 (as MK-7) is needed for bone quality – Review Feb 2013
- Increased Vitamin K2 reduces the problems of excess Calcium – Nov 2013
- Vitamin K and bone health – need more research Oct 2013
- Vitamin K-2 (180 ug MK-7) helped both bone density and strength – RCT March 2013
- Healthy bones need Ca, Silicon, Vitamins B, C, D, and K – Dec 2012
- Increasing bone mineral density increases breast cancer by at least 2X – Aug 2012
- Healthy bones need: Calcium, Vitamin D, Magnesium, Silicon, Vitamin K, and Boron – 2012
- Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium, etc increase bone density when taking together– Jan 2012
- BONE SPURS not produced if have enough Vitamin D3, Vitamin K2, etc. – Nov 2011
- Vitamin K1 reduced hip fracture but Vitamin K2 did not – Aug 2011
- Women with hip fractures very low on vitamins D3 and K – Mar 2011
- Vitamin K2 from natto improved bone mineral density – March 2011
Overview Vitamin K and Vitamin D contains the following summary
Vitamin K2 is similar to D3 in many ways
- Both vitamins were initially confused with its lesser form (D2 ==> D3, K1 ==> K2)
- Both vitamins appear to influence health in large number of ways
- Both vitamins in the body are about 1/10 that of a century ago
Example: Grass-fed beef has a lot more K2, D3, and Magnesium - Need very little of both vitamins: <1 milligram daily
- When Vitamin D3 is increased, it appears that Vitamin K2 should also be increased
- Vitamin K2 understanding and research is about 20 years behind that of Vitamin D3
One of the reasons: No simple blood test for K2 as of Jan 2020
- Note: Vitamin D blocks Vitamin K – 2015 - perhaps should not take at the same time
Download the PDF from Sci-Hub Vitamin D Life
Background Previous studies did not draw a consistent conclusion about the effects of vitamin K combined with vitamin D on human skeletal quality.
Method and Findings A comprehensive search on Web of Science, PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library (from 1950 to February 2020) and bibliographies of relevant articles was undertaken, with eight randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with a total of 971 subjects included in the meta-analysis. Vitamin K combined with D significantly increased the total bone mineral density (BMD): the pooled effect size was 0.316 [95% CI (confidence interval) 0.031 to 0.601]. A significant decrease of undercarboxylated osteocalcin (-0.945, -1.113 to -0.778) can be witnessed with the combination of vitamin K and D. Simultaneously, subgroup analysis showed that K2 or vitamin K (not specified) supplement was less than 500 µg/d, which combined with vitamin D can significantly increase the total BMD compared with control group on normal diet or the group with no treatment (0.479, 0.101 to 0.858 and 0.570, 0.196 to 0.945).
Conclusions The combination of vitamin K and D can significantly increase total BMD and significantly decrease undercarboxylated osteocalcin, and a more favorable effect is expected when vitamin K2 is used.