The Canadian Home Total Parenteral Nutrition (HTPN) Registry Vitamin K Supplementation and Bone Mineral Density

Background: Vitamin K supplementation improves bone health, and its absence might be associated with low bone mineral density (BMD). The authors aim to assess vitamin K supplementation practices in Canadian home parenteral nutrition (HPN) programs and their relationship with BMD. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of 189 patients from the Canadian HPN registry. Results: All 189 patients studied received M.V.I.-12, which does not contain vitamin K. Of those, 41.3% were supplemented with 10 mg of intravenous vitamin K (VK+) weekly, whereas the others did not receive vitamin K except via lipid emulsion (VK−). Short bowel syndrome accounted for 69% of VK+ and 46% of VK− patients. On univariate analysis, VK+ patients had substantially lower body mass index (BMI) and received lower bisphosphonate infusion than did VK−patients. There were no statistically significant differences in HPN calcium or lipid content, liver function test results, age, sex, or reason for HPN between the 2 groups. Patients who were...