Study Shows Early Promise Vitamin K2 Can Prevent GC-Induced Bone Loss
Robust inhibition of glucocorticoid (GC) on angiogenesis has been illustrated both in vitro and in vivo, as well as decreased bone formation and increased bone resorption. Furthermore, GC administration has been attributed to the most common cause of atraumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) and secondary osteoporosis.
Vitamin K2 has been used for osteoporosis in Asia countries for years, and studies showed that Vitamin K2 could increase bone mineral density and prevent the incidence of fracture in patients with osteoporosis. In vitro studies further confirmed the important role of Vitamin K2 in bone metabolism including the γ-carboxylation of osteocalcin, promotion of osteogenesis and inhibition of osteoclastogenesis.
In this study, recently published in the International Journal of Biological Science, the authors found that Vitamin K2 protected endothelial cells from GC-induced apoptosis. Moreover, VK2 promoted cell migration, in vitro angiogenesis and the expression of angiogenesis-related proteins in endothelial cells. They also observed significant improvement of blood vessels by Vitamin K2 administration in the femoral head of GC-treated rats.
In conclusion, Vitamin K2 has the potential to ameliorate damage of blood vessels in a GC-treated rat model, which indicates its clinical significance for the prevention of GC-induced ONFH.
“Glucocorticoid (GC) has been widely used for the treatment of rheumatic, auto-immune and hematopoietic system diseases,” says Dr. Katarzyna Maresz, president of the International Science and Health Foundation. “Clinically, up to 40% of glucocorticoid users develop some degree of atraumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) depending on the steroid’s dosage and route of administration. Taken together, these findings indicate that Vitamin K2 is a promising method for the prevention of GC-induced bone loss.”
Reference: Zhang Y, Yin J, Ding H, Zhang C, Gao Y.S. Vitamin K2 Ameliorates Damage of Blood Vessels by Glucocorticoid: a Potential Mechanism for Its Protective Effects in Glucocorticoid-induced Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head in a Rat Model. Int. J. Biol. Sci. 2016, Vol. 12.