vitamin k

Question

I like to know what do you believe about taking vit k some doctors said to us not to take it others to take it for osteoporosis, my daughter is 19 years old

Answer

Hello
Thank you for this question. Vit K is important for production of blood clotting factors in the liver and may be a factor in CF related bone disease. Vit K supplementation (particularly if deficiency can be described) is therefore a reasonable approach and is supported by European guidelines. However it is important to note that the European guidelines indicate that Vitamin deficiency may be rare and so routine supplementation is controversial but should be considered in patients with low bone mineral density, liver disease or a prolonged prothrombin time. I recommend you discuss in further detail with your CF doctor whether it would be appropriate for you take Vit K supplements.

Good luck
Val Hall

Consensus Report on Nutrition for Pediatric Patients With Cystic Fibrosis by Drucy Borowitz, Robert D. Baker, and Virginia Stallings (Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition 35:246–259, 2002)

UK CF Trust Report of Bone Mineralisation Working Group February 2007

Sinaasappel et al, 2002. Nutrition in patients with cystic fibrosis: a European Consensus. Journal of Cystic Fibrosis. 2002 Jun;1(2):51-75.

11.01.2008

The answer is edited by: Valerie Hall