Vitamin K is necessary for blood coagulation. Low blood levels of vitamin K are associated with diseases involving abnormal calcifications including hardening of the arteries, osteoarthritis, bone fractures and bone loss. Increased vitamin K intake has been found to reduce bone loss and fracture risk among seniors. Now a recent review reports that the elderly are not receiving the recommended intake of vitamin K.
The review was published in Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care. Dr. Sarah Booth, lead researcher at Tufts University USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, analyzed current studies to assess the vitamin K nutritional status of the elderly. A meta-analysis found that increased intake of vitamin K is necessary to lower the risk of fracture and bone among seniors. Although elderly people seem to consume more vitamin K than young adults, a subgroup of seniors is still not meeting the recommended dietary intake.
Other studies show that nondietary factors of vitamin K are important for determining the nutritional status of seniors. New research suggests that low estrogen levels during menopause can affect vitamin K metabolism. However, more research is needed to determine vitamin K status among seniors and which groups may benefit from vitamin K supplementation.
"Evidence is emerging to support recommendations to increase intakes of vitamin K among the elderly to reduce bone loss and fracture risk," Dr. Booth writes. "Much more research is required, however, to identify nondietary determinants of vitamin K status, and their impact on the elderly."
REFERENCES:
1. Booth SL. Vitamin K status in the elderly. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2007 Jan;10(1):20-3.
Posted by Elaine Gavalas on February 28, 2007 01:25 PM
