K2 Deficiency & Kids’ Fracture Risk Link Presented at International Bone Conference
A poster presented at The World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis, and Musculoskeletal Diseases, the world’s leading clinical conference on bone, joint, and muscle health, detailed recent research showing that low vitamin K status correlated with increased fracture risk in children.
The scientific program, developed by the Committee of Scientific Advisors of the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) and the Scientific Advisory Board of the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis (ESCEO), brought together the world’s best in the field of musculoskeletal health and disease from April 19-22, 2018 in Krakow, Poland. According to IOF and ESCEO, program’s intention is to “move the field forward on all fronts; from new understanding of bone metabolism and pathology, to new strategies and options in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.”
The poster, “Roles of Vitamins D and K, Nutrition, and Lifestyle in Low-Energy Bone Fractures in Children and Young Adults”, was presented to this prestigious audience by authors Dr. Michael Karpinski from Medical School in Białystok and Dr. Katarzyna Maresz, president of the International Science and Health Foundation. According to Dr. Maresz, theirs was the only presentation that addressed the bone health benefits of Vitamin K.
“The main conclusion of our study was the tremendous impact Vitamin K has on bone health, in particular how Vitamin K2 deficiency seriously affects fracture risks of children,” says Dr. Maresz, whose group created VitaminK2.org. “While many presented studies on Vitamin D, ours was the only paper/poster that addressed both Vitamins K and D, two complementary nutrients for supporting bone health.
“Making these important nutrients part of the conversation with the medical community shows how the potential of future bone therapies could be positively impacted,” adds Maresz.