Vitamin K is an essential cofactor for the conversion of glutamate into gamma-carboxyglutamate. In healt-hy individuals dietary intake of vitamin K as phylloquinone (vitamin K-l) and menaquinone (MK-n, vitamin K-2) fills the needs for coagulation, but in 90% of the population is not sufficient for maintenance of the production of Gla-proteins in bone and vascular tissue. Unlike vitamin A and D, vitamin K is not tran-sferred to other plasma carriers than lipoproteins. Vitamin K stimulates osteogenic and inhibits adipogenic differentiation of marrow stromal cells. Elevated levels of undercarboxylated osteocalcin, a vitamin K-dependent protein involved in bone metabolism, may result from subclinical vitamin K deficiency and are frequently observed in the elderly. In some studies, undercarboxylation of osteocalcin has been reported to be associated with an impaired bone quality and increased risk of fracture. Also, an inadequate dietary intake of vitamin K may result in undercarboxylation of vascular matrix Gla-proteins, leading to enhanced calcification of atherosclerotic lesions and an increased risk of coronary heart disease. Recent studies sug-gest a protective effect of menaquinone intake against coronary heart disease as well as against the deteri-oration of bone quality.

        Key words: coronary heart disease - fracture - lipoproteins - osteoporosis - quality of bone