Promotion of Bone Formation by Fermented Soybean (Natto) Intake in Premenopausal Women

Abstract

SummaryA therapeutic agent of vitamin K2 is approved for the treatment of osteoporosis in Japan. However, little is known about the efficacy of dietary intake of vitamin K2 for bone health. We compared the effects of various levels of fermented soybeans (Natto) intake , which contains plenty of vitamin K2, on bone stiffness and bone turnover markers in healthy premenopausal women, Seventy-three healthy premenopausal women were ran domly divided into four groups matched for age and parity categories . Natto was supplied as follows: Group 1(no intake), Group 2 (once per month), Group 3 (once per week) and Group 4 (three times per week). Subjects took Natto at a lunch for 1 y , and the stiffness index by quantitative ultrasound and bone turnover markers were assessed at baseline, 6 mo and 1 y There was no statistical difference in the stiffness index during the 1 y observation . How ever, bone specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) in Group 4 was higher than that in Group 3 at 1 y and undercarboxylated osteocalcin (Glu) in Group 4 was significantly lower than those in Groups 1, 2 and 3 at 6 mo. Logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of reduction of bone formation markers declined to 0.07 in Group 4 based on that in Group 1 . In premenopausal women who had to keep the stiffness index as high as possible before menopause, Natto intake may have contributed to the promotion of bone formation .

Vitamin K–containing dietary supplements: comparison of synthetic vitamin K1 and natto-derived menaquinone-7

“…The higher menaquinones including MK-7 are much more hydrophobic, however, and in vivo they are handled differently: they have longer half-life times, 13 and in the circulation they are incorporated into low-density lipoproteins. 15 K 1 is by far the most common form of vitamin K in commercially available supplements, but because of the health claims for the regular consumption of natto that are repeatedly made in the scientific literature, [16][17][18] MK-7 in the form of a natto extract is rapidly gaining interest. Whereas supplements containing vitamin K 1 have been commercially available for many years, MK-7 has entered the market only recently.…”

Functional Foods in Europe: A Focus on Health Claims

“…Additionally, the role of vitamin D in maintaining normal blood calcium concentrations and absorption and utilisation of Ca and P was confirmed (EFSA 2009|). In the last decade, the role of vitamin K in -carboxylation of osteocalcin has also been recognised (Ikeda et al 2006;Katsuyama et al 2004) as about 10-30% of osteocalcin in the healthy adult population is in an under-carboxylated (and therefore inactive) state (Vermeer et al 2004). Other nutrients recognised in maintaining normal bone health are magnesium, zinc, manganese, potassium, copper and phosphorus (Table 7).…”

Influencia del consumo de soja sobre la masa ósea

“…Incluso el grupo de Katsuyama y cols. (12) han demostrado un efecto dosis respuesta en mujeres premenopáusicas, siendo superior el aumento de la formación ósea en las mujeres que consumían suplementos de soja tres veces a la semana, que las que consumían una vez a la semana o una vez al mes.…”