A recent study claims that Vitamin K supplement may not be effective in protecting women against decreasing bone mineral density after menopause. This study also showed that vitamin K1 may protect against fracture and cancer in postmenopausal women with osteopenia.

Researchers from the University of Toronto conducted this study to asses if daily supplements of vitamin K1 would protect women at risk for osteoporosis.  

In this study, researchers randomly divided 440 postmenopausal women with osteopenia, the precursor to full blown osteoporosis into two groups. One group was assigned to take a high dose of vitamin K1 daily while other group was given a placebo. The women were observed for two years.  

Researchers found that though the treatment showed no effect on bone mineral density, women on the active treatment were less likely to break a bone and also less likely to develop cancer. However, the numbers in both of these cases were relatively small.  

Data analysis showed that 9 women among those taking vitamin K supplement experienced a fracture compare to 20 among those taking placebo, and 3 versus 12 came down with cancer. 

Researchers advised that women should use caution in interpreting the study results. They recommended that women should not start taking vitamin K supplements to reduce their fracture or cancer risk.