Effect of menatetrenone (vitamin K2) treatment on bone loss in patients with anorexia nervosa

What Was Tested

The paper reports a study of Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc, published as a clinical trial.

Osteoporosis is a common complication of anorexia nervosa (AN).

Although weight recovery and resumption of menses are important goals in AN treatment, they are often achieved only after a prolonged period of recovery.

Who Took Part

According to the abstract, 10 patients were involved.

By PubMed's age tags, the people studied were adults, both men and women.

How the Study Was Run

In design terms this was a placebo-controlled study.

The comparison arm used a placebo, so changes seen with Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc could be set against what happens without it.

What Was Measured

Lumbar BMD was longitudinally measured by Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) in 10 patients with AN who chose to receive menatetrenone treatment (MED+ group) and 11 patients who did not (MED- group).

The subject headings attached to it are Anorexia Nervosa, Blood Chemical Analysis, Bone Density, Hemostatics, Osteoporosis, Urinalysis and Vitamin K 2.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a placebo-controlled study of Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc in 10 patients.

With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.

The publication is from 2003 (Psychiatry research), a journal based in Ireland.

More context: the Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc compound page, all human trials.