October 20th is World Osteoporosis Day. According to the International Osteoporosis Foundation the number of factures due to fragile bones has gone up almost 20% since 1990 and is projected to be up 240% by 2050.
One in four Americans over age 50 will suffer an osteoporosis-related fracture.
Osteoporosis is also known as brittle bone disease, which, unfortunately, is a seemingly accurate nickname. This is the most common type of bone disease, and it causes your bones to become weak, brittle and extra breakable, so much so that small actions like sneezing can break a bone.
The major contributing factor of this disease is the fact that bones are technically alive and like everything else in the human body if its living tissue, it regenerates. However, for those with Osteoporosis, when their bones grow back, they grow back weaker and weaker than they did before, leading them to be much less structurally sound than they should be. This explains why actions that the average person can do with ease can be extremely consequential for those with Osteoporosis.
Anyone can develop Osteoporosis, however women who have gone through menopause have proven to be the most at risk for developing this condition. This disease gets more common the older you get as once people pass the age of 30 their bone mass is lost faster than it can be replaced. So, as you get older it is vital to consciously feed your body the right foods and nutrients to ensure you have the strongest bones possible. This process can never start too soon as the stronger your bones are at an early age, the stronger they will stay as you age.
This begs the question “what can you do to strengthen your bones to keep from developing Osteoporosis?”
The answer seems to be Vitamin K. There was a revolutionary study released in 2013 verifying that post-menopausal woman who took vitamin K2 on a daily basis over the course of three years experienced a remarkable increase in bone health. Specifically, the rates of bone density decline decreased in critical areas like the spine and neck, which enabled these women to stay mobile and greatly reduced their spinal fracture risk.
This study sparked much of the research over the last decade about the effects K vitamins have on bone health. One of the leading research programs on the subject is Gnosis by Lesaffre. They are a biotech company that specialize in developing, manufacturing, and selling supplements, like MK-7 that feature Vitamin K2. Jean-François Jeanne, Substantiation Team Leader at Gnosis stated, “The growing body of evidence showing that supplementation with Vitamin K2 as MK-7 protects healthy bone structure is compelling.”
If it didn’t have enough great body enhancing properties already, Vitamin K pairs well with other vitamins and minerals, like vitamin D and calcium. One of the conducted studies demonstrates the increased effectiveness and value of Vitamin K when it is paired with vitamin D and/or calcium. The authors of this particular study concluded that “The combination of vitamin K and D can significantly increase the total BMD [bone mass density] … and a more favorable effect is expected when vitamin K2 is used.”
In the most recent vitamin K affirming news, a study published by Nutrients presents the active role of Vitamin K and K-related proteins in strengthening and maintaining bone health and density. Gnosis by Lesaffre has rounded up majority of the studies involving vitamin K and bone density, and the results insist that vitamin K and vitamin D are an inseparable pair for increasing bone mass density. These two vitamins work better together and produce better results together than they do as individuals.
The authors of the review state that “This synergy is particularly beneficial for individuals at risk of osteoporosis, offering a comprehensive approach to bone health … Current treatments for osteoporosis, like bisphosphonates, remain necessary, but combining them with [vitamins] K2 and D3 could enhance prevention. Research on long-term effects and optimal supplementation strategies is crucial as osteoporosis rates rise globally.”
Jean-François Jeanne concludes saying that as World Osteoporosis Day draws nearer, Gnosis is dedicated to sending the “message to brand developers, practitioners, retailers, and consumers—that vitamin K2 completes the triumvirate of bone health (with calcium and vitamin D). We are actively supporting more bone research, with recent efforts focused on reducing the side effects of bisphosphonates.”
References:
Gnosis by Lesaffre – Exploring Life to Improve Living.
Knapen et al Osteoporosis Int (2013)
Ma et al. Front Public Health (2022)
Zhou et al. J Bone Miner Metab (2022)
Kuang et al. Food Funct (2020)
Hu et al. J Orthop Surg Res (2021)
Aeseth JO et al. Nutrients (2024)
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