Vitamin K2 more important than calcium in lowering risk of fractures

Japanese scientists studied the link between hip fractures and calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D.

They found that there was an association between intake of magnesium, vitamin D, and vitamin K and reduced hip fracture in both men and women, and calcium in women. 

However, the strongest association between nutrient intake and reduced risk of hip fracture occurred in subjects with the highest intake of vitamin K2 in both men and women.

According to the scientists, "Since regions which consumed a lot of vitamin K, especially vitamin K2, showed a low incidence of hip fracture, we considered that vitamin K intake of over 300 mcg/day would be helpful to reduce the incidence of hip fracture.”

Source: Yaegashi Y, Onoda T, Tanno K, Kuribayashi T, Sakata K, Orimo H. Association of hip fracture incidence and intake of calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, and K vitamins.Eur J Epidemiol. 2008;23(3):219-25.