The Science

Bone mass density increases with high dose Vitamin D with plant-based source of calcium and boron

Reference

Kaats GR, Preuss HG, Croft HA, Keith SC, and Keith PL (2011) A Comparative Effectiveness Study of Bone Density Changes in Women Over 40 Following Three Bone Health Plans Containing Variations of the Same Novel Plant-sourced Calcium. Internarional Journal of Medical Sciences 8(3): 180-191
A human study conducted in healthy women over 40 years of age evaluated bone mass density (BMD) after one year consuming one of three bone-health supplements. Bone-health supplements contained plant-based calcium and varying levels of Vitamin D3. One plan included boron. The bone-health supplement plan that included optimal level of D3 (1000 IU) and boron (3 mg) resulted in greatest increase in BMD (4.1% increase vs 2.0% or less). The plan that resulted in the greatest increase in BMD also included physical activity.

Calcium absorption is greatest from plant-based source and bone mass is enhanced with presence of variety of other micronutrients

References:

Nieves JW (2005) Osteoporosis: the role of micronutrients. Am J Clin Nutr.2005; 81(5):1232S-1239S

There is a clear role for dietary calcium and Vitamin D in promoting bone density and preventing osteoporosis in humans. However, bone mass and calcium absorption depend on the presence of sufficient levels of other micronutrients, including Potassium, Vitamin K, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Magnesium, Sodium, and Phosphorus is proportion to Calcium.

Tucker KL, Hannan MT, Chen H, et al: Potassium, magnesium, and fruit and vegetable intakes are associated with greater bone mineral density in elderly men and women. Am J Clin Nutr. 1999; 69(1):727-736.

A long-term study (4 years) of a well-studied group of elderly individuals (Framingham Heart Study cohort) showed that those with greater intakes of Potassium and Magnesium, along with Calcium, resulted in greater bone mass measurements at four locations. The study supports that a diet that includes a variety of macronutrients and micronutrients, such as from fruits and vegetables, promotes bone mass development and retention in humans.

Need for adequate Vitamin K and optimal form for horses is K3, menaquinone

O’Neil J, Scarrott B, Svalheim RA, Elliott J and Hodges SJ (2017) Vitamin K2 in Animal Health: An Overview, Vitamin K2 Jan Gordeladze, IntechOpen, DOI: 10.5772/63901. Available from: 

 

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Terachi T, Inoue Y, Ashihara N, Kobayashi M, Ando K, Matsui T. Plasma vitamin K concentration in horses supplemented with several vitamin K homologs. J Anim Sci. 2011;89(4):1056–61.

The horse liver contains predominantly vitamin K1 relates to the dietary source for this animal, but K2 and K3 forms are vitally important to blood-clotting functions of Vitamin K. In a large, rapidly growing animal like the horse, an adequate vitamin K supply may need to meet more than coagulation requirements. An indication of this may be suggested from a 4‐week‐old Standardbred colt initially presenting with vitamin K deficiency bleeding that continued to fail to thrive after normalization of the coagulation defect by the administration of vitamin K. A study, with an interest in race horse growth, and in particular bone health, investigated the best form of vitamin K to administer orally to horses. Circulating vitamin K1 increased in relation to the administered dose; however, menaquinone‐4 administration did not show corresponding plasma level increases, the suggestion being that the horses in this study did not absorb this vitamer. Interestingly, administration of vitamin K3 did cause menaquinone‐4 plasma levels to rise.