The Role of Vitamins in the Prevention of Osteoporosis – a Brief Status Report

This papers summarizes the main role vitamins are believed to play in the prevention of osteoporosis, a common disease which is anticipated to rapidly increase because of the aging of the population. Vitamin D, the classical vitamin related to bone health, improves bone strength mainly by increasing intestinal calcium absorption and reabsorption of calcium by the kidney. Several intervention studies demonstrated in humans that vitamin D can improve bone status as measured by bone density. Vitamin C is considered an essential cofactor of collagen formation. Epidemiological studies report a positive association between vitamin C intake and bone density. Intervention studies on the effect of vitamin C on bone status are missing. Vitamin B⁶ could function as a cofactor to build up cross-links. In humans, however, there is little evidence to support this. Vitamin K is required for the biological activity of several coagulation factors; the classical function of vitamin K. Recent research also points to a role of vitamin K in bone metabolism. Vitamin K mediates the ¨-carboxylation of glutamyl residues on several bone proteins, notably osteocalcin. Epidemiological studies and results from first intervention trials are consistently suggesting that vitamin K may improve bone health.