The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Sydney, Australia | Xinhua | An Australian study has found that higher vitamin K1 intake is associated with lower long-term fracture-related hospitalization risk.
Researchers from Edith Cowan University (ECU) and University of Western Australia probed into the relationship between fracture-related hospitalizations and vitamin K1 intake in nearly 1,400 older Australian women over a 14.5-year period.
The study, published in the Food & Function journal, revealed that women who took in more than 100 mcg of vitamin K1, equivalent to about 125 g of dark leafy vegetables, were 31 percent less likely to have any fracture than those consuming less than 60 mcg per day.
More positive results were reported regarding hip fractures, with those who ate the most vitamin K1 cutting their risk of hospitalization almost in half.
In a statement released on Monday, Marc Sim, lead author and senior research fellow at ECU, regarded the results as further evidence of the benefits of vitamin K1, which has also been shown to enhance cardiovascular health.
“Basic studies of vitamin K1 have identified a critical role in the carboxylation of the vitamin K1-dependant bone proteins such as osteocalcin, which is believed to improve bone toughness,” said the expert.
“A previous ECU trial indicates dietary vitamin K1 intakes of less than 100 mcg per day may be too low for this carboxylation,” he noted, adding that vitamin K1 may also promote bone health by inhibiting various bone resorbing agents.
According to the statement, vitamin K1-rich foods include kale, spinach, broccoli, green beans, prunes, kiwi and avocado.
