Commentary
See article on page 473Boning up on vitamin K
| The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below. |
The nature and significance of the relationship between vitamin
K status and bone health has been debated for some years. Vitamin K is
required for the gamma carboxylation of glutamic acid residues in three
bone proteins, namely osteocalcin, matrix Gla protein, and protein S. Although the roles of these proteins have not been clearly defined,
there is evidence that osteocalcin, which is produced by cells of the
osteocyte/osteoblast lineage and has three vitamin K dependent gamma
carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) residues, may be involved in the
mineralisation of bone matrix1; in addition, it may
function as a negative regulator of bone formation, deletion of the
osteocalcin gene in mice resulting in increased bone
mass.2 Approximately 30% of synthesised osteocalcin is released into the circulation and serum levels of the protein are
widely used as an indicator of bone formation.3 Vitamin K
deficiency is associated with a reduction in circulating osteocalcin concentrations
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Gut 2001 48: 473-477.[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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