ビタミン K2（メナキノン−4）添加カルシウム錠菓の長期摂取における有効性および安全性

Vitamin K is one of the nutritional elements which promote bone formation, and it is recommendedto take vitamin K to prevent osteoporosis. We evaluated the efficacy in bonemetabolism and safety of 12 weeks intake of vitamin K2（menaquinone−4：MK−4）containingcalcium tablets.Eighty−six healthy male and female volunteers were divided into two groups；onegroup took calcium tablets and the other group took vitamin K2 （MK−4）（1.5 mg／day）containingcalcium tablets for 12 weeks. In the vitamin K2（MK−4）containing calcium tablets takinggroup, γ−carboxylated osteocalcin（GlaOC）was increased and undercarboxylated osteocalcin（ucOC）was decreased in both female（before and after menopause）and male subjects, suggestingpromoted bone formation by vitamin K2（MK−4）. There were no adverse events orclinically relevant changes in safety parameters during the 12 weeks of intake and follow−upperiod of successive 4 weeks.This study showed that the vitamin K2（MK−4）containing calcium tablets used in thisstudy is effective in improving bone metabolism safely, and is effective in preventing osteoporosis.（Jpn Pharmacol Ther 2008；36：1179−88）KEY WORDS Vitamin K2，Calcium，Osteocalcin，Bone formation，Osteoprosis