Vitamin K intake and hip fractures in women: a prospective study

Diane Feskanich, Peter Weber, Walter C. Willett, Helaine Rockett, Sarah L. Booth, and Graham A. Colditz

ABSTRACT
Background: Vitamin K mediates the gamma-carboxylation of glutamyl residues on several bone proteins, notably osteocaclin. High serum concentrations of undercarboxylated osteocalcin and low serum concentrations of vitamin K are associated with lower bone mineral density and increased risk of hip fracture. However, data are limited on the effects of dietary vitamin K.

Objective: We investigated the hypothesis that high intakes of vitamin K are associated with a lower risk of hip fracture in women.

Design: We conducted a prospective analysis within the Nurses' Health Study cohort. Diet was assessed in 72 327 women aged 38-63 y with a food-frequency questionnaire in 1984 (baseline). During the subsequent 10 y of follow-up, 270 hip fractures resulting from low or moderate trauma were reported.

Results: Women in quintiles 2-5 of vitamin K intake had a significantly lower age-adjusted relative risk (RR: 0.70; 95%CI: 0.53, 0.93) of hip fracture than women in the lowest quintile (<109 µg/d). Risk did not decrease between quintiles 2 and 5 and risk estimates were not altered when other risk factors for osteoporosis, including calcium and vitamin D intakes, were added to the models. Risk of hip fracture was also inversely associated with lettuce consumption (RR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.40, 0.78) for one or more servings per day compared with one or fewer servings per week, the food that contributed the most to dietary vitamin K intakes.

Conclusions: Low intakes of vitamin K may increase the risk of hip fracture in women. The data support the suggestion for a reassessment of the vitamin K requirements that are based on bone health and blood coagulation.

Am J Clin Nutr 1999;69:74-9.