The combination effect of vitamin K and vitamin D on human bone quality: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Kuang et al., 2020 | Food Funct | Meta Analysis

Citation

Kuang Xiaotong, Liu Chunxiao, ... Li Duo. The combination effect of vitamin K and vitamin D on human bone quality: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Food Funct. 2020-Apr-30;11(4):3280-3297. doi:10.1039/c9fo03063h

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Previous studies did not draw a consistent conclusion about the effects of vitamin K combined with vitamin D on human skeletal quality. METHOD AND FINDINGS: A comprehensive search on Web of Science, PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library (from 1950 to February 2020) and bibliographies of relevant articles was undertaken, with the meta-analysis of eight randomized controlled trials (RCTs) including a total of 971 subjects. Vitamin K combined with vitamin D significantly increased the total bone mineral density (BMD): the pooled effect size was 0.316 [95% CI (confidence interval), 0.031 to 0.601]. A significant decrease in undercarboxylated osteocalcin (-0.945, -1.113 to -0.778) can be observed with the combination of vitamin K and D. Simultaneously, subgroup analysis showed that K2 or vitamin K (not specified) supplement was less than 500 μg d-1, which when combined with vitamin D can significantly increase the total BMD compared with the control group fed a normal diet or the group with no treatment (0.479, 0.101 to 0.858 and 0.570, 0.196 to 0.945). CONCLUSIONS: The combination of vitamin K and D can significantly increase the total BMD and significantly decrease undercarboxylated osteocalcin, and a more favorable effect is expected when vitamin K2 is used.

Key Findings

A comprehensive search on Web of Science, PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library (from 1950 to February 2020) and bibliographies of relevant articles was undertaken, with the meta-analysis of eight randomized controlled trials (RCTs) including a total of 971 subjects. Vitamin K combined with vitamin D significantly increased the total bone mineral density (BMD): the pooled effect size was 0.316 [95% CI (confidence interval), 0.031 to 0.601]. A significant decrease in undercarboxylated osteocalc

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size 971
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Bone Density
  • Bone and Bones
  • Databases, Factual
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Humans
  • Osteocalcin
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Vitamin D
  • Vitamin K
  • Vitamin K 2

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: vitamin-d-bone

Provenance


Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09