Vitamin D, K co-treatment tackles aging-related conditions in postmenopausal women: Review

“Growing evidence demonstrates that osteoporosis could be prevalent in atherosclerotic patients and that interventions aimed at preventing one condition could positively influence others, ultimately slowing down the progression of aging and improving the quality of life,”  Marius Emil Rusu, researcher at Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Romania, and colleagues wrote in the journal Nutrients​.

Tackling health risks after the menopause​

Women undergoing menopause have higher risks of health complications such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) and osteoporosis than younger women as they see increases in body fat, insulin resistance and a reduction in cardiovascular fitness. The CVD burden for these women is understudied, and one in three has an osteoporotic fracture during their lifetime, the authors noted.

Maintaining healthy levels of key vitamins is important for staving off CVD and bone conditions in postmenopausal women. Examples include vitamin D, which is absorbed through the skin via ultraviolet B light exposure or consumed as part of the diet from fatty fish, fish oil, egg yolks and vitamin K, which is found in dark leafy-green vegetables and fermented foods.

Boosting intake of these vitamins via diet and supplements could help manage age-related health risks in postmenopausal women, noted Rusu and colleagues. However, the effects of co-treatment with vitamin D and vitamin K in postmenopausal women had not been reviewed until now, they said.

Maintaining a healthy diet​

The authors assessed 31 previous studies on the role of vitamin D and vitamin K co-treatment in post-menopausal women, focusing on randomized controlled parallel or crossover trial studies. The most common form of vitamin D used in the studies was vitamin D3 with doses ranging from 50 IU to 4,500 IU per day, and the most common form of vitamin K among the studies was vitamin K1 with doses from 80 μg to 1 mg per day.

Based on the investigations, Rusu et al. found that vitamin D and vitamin K worked synergistically to neutralize harmful free radicals, lower inflammation and improve bone strength, in addition to preventing blood vessel calcification and maintaining healthy blood pressure levels.

The conclusions emphasize the importance of maintaining a healthy diet such as a Mediterranean diet enhanced with vitamins K and D, which could prevent age-associated diseases in menopausal women, the researchers wrote.

The researchers also acknowledged, however, that it may be difficult for older people to acquire all their nutrients from dietary sources and therefore there could be essential roles for vitamin supplements together with healthy eating.

Commenting independently, Maciej Chichlowski, senior director of nutrition research at U.S. supplement supplier Shaklee Corporation, called it quite comprehensive, considering the inclusion of data from a large number of studies across a wide range of countries.

Encouraging dietary changes among postmenopausal women can be challenging, he said, particularly if eating habits are deeply ingrained or if women have busy schedules. He also noted that this type of change can be daunting and require substantial support and motivation.

“Access to fresh, healthy foods can be limited, especially in food deserts or rural areas, making it difficult to follow the required diet consistently," he added. "Stress and other behavioral factors can impede the adoption of a healthier diet.” 

Looking ahead, he said that many health areas in postmenopausal women still require much more research including the psychological effects of menopause, sexual health and the long-term benefits, risks of hormone-replacement therapy, and the effective prevention, early detection and treatment strategies for osteoporosis.

Source: Nutrients​ 2024​, 16(14), 2356
“Investigating the Effects and Mechanisms of Combined Vitamin D and K Supplementation in Postmenopausal Women: An Up-to-Date Comprehensive Review of Clinical Studies”
doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16142356​
Authors: Marius Emil Rusu et al.