The Research Shows Vitamin K Important For Juvenile Bone Development

Adequate levels of vitamin K play in a central role in the development and maintenance of healthy bones in children, according to a study conducted by Dutch researchers from the Universities of Maastricht and Utrecht and published in the journal Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology.

The researchers measured the vitamin K status and bone mineral content (a measure of bone health) of 55 children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and 54 children with healthy bones. All participants were between the ages 6 and 18.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is the most common childhood disease of the joints and connective tissues. Approximately one in 250 children in the United States suffers from the disease.

Among children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, higher levels of vitamin K were significantly correlated with improved measures of bone health and strength. Among the healthy children, no relationship was found between vitamin K levels and bone health. Read more