Introduction
bone disease, fracture, osteoporotic, pain, vertebral fractures, fractures, Osteoporosis, Osteoporosis-related fractures, disability
BONE DISEASE, BLOOD CLOTTING, OSTEOPOROSIS
Osteoporosis is the most common bone disease and affects one in two postmenopausal women. Osteoporosis-related fractures cause severe pain and disability, loss of independence and increased mortality particularly in those who sustain a hip fracture. This places an enormous burden on healthcare resources in excess of £4.7 billion annually in the United Kingdom (UK) [Several epidemiological and cross-sectional studies have highlighted the importance of vitamin K (best known for its effects on blood clotting) for bone health. The two main forms of vitamin K; vitamin KDaily adequate intake of vitamin KClinical trials of vitamin K supplementation have however been inconclusive and data from some of the early work has been questioned. In a more recent meta-analysis of intervention trials, excluding the trials where concerns were raised, in post-menopausal or osteoporotic patients, a reduction in clinical fractures for vitamin K compared to controls was seen (OR, 0.72, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.95) with no difference in vertebral fractures or BMD [Whilst we do not advocate using vitamin KWe hypothesized that the addition of vitamin K in the form of either K