Low Vitamin K May Cause Low Bone Mass

MAASTRICHT, Netherlands—According to a recent study published in Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology, low vitamin K levels may be one of multiple risk factors for low bone mass in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), in addition to other recognized determinants of bone mass (2008;26(3):484-91). A cross sectional study in 55 children with JIA and 54 healthy controls between 6 to 18 years of age was performed. Overall, no differences in vitamin K status of bone were found between the study groups. Among children with JIA, a high ratio of ucOC/cOC indicating low vitamin K status was associated with low bone ultrasound parameters, whereas children with a high vitamin K status had markedly higher bone properties. This association was independent of physical activity, age, gender and body mass index (BMI).