On November 6, the Vietnam Institute of Applied Medicine organized a scientific workshop on "The role of Vitamin D3 and K2 in improving bone density and height growth in children", with the participation of scientists, professors, doctors, and leading doctors specializing in nutrition, pediatrics, and bones and joints.
Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Xuyen - former Deputy Minister of Health, President of the Vietnam Medical Association - said: The Vietnam Institute of Applied Medicine warned that vitamin D deficiency in children in Vietnam is still common and has a negative impact on children's height development.
A 2022 study in Southeast Asian countries (including Vietnam) showed that more than 50% of infants are vitamin D deficient.
Dr. Truong Hong Son - Director of the Vietnam Institute of Applied Medicine - emphasized: "The combination of vitamin K2 and vitamin D3 supports calcium absorption into bones, thereby helping to increase bone density, reduce the risk of osteoporosis, bone fractures, and at the same time, reduce calcium deposition in blood vessels and soft tissues.
This is important for improving bone health and height growth in children. Combined supplementation of vitamin D3 and vitamin K2 has been shown in some studies to have a better effect on children's bone development than vitamin D3 supplementation alone.
Sharing at the workshop, Professor Leon Schurgers - Vice President of the Department of Biochemistry at Maastricht University, and Chairman of the scientific steering committee on quality assurance of vitamin K discovery globally, shared more: "To maximize the effectiveness of vitamin K2, it is necessary to pay attention to choosing to use products containing vitamin K2 in the form of MK7.
Experts and nutritionists shared, discussed and agreed on new, practical perspectives on the important role of the duo Vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3 in ensuring bone health and supporting optimal height development for children, including the following main contents:
Vitamin D3 helps increase the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the small intestine, providing raw materials for bone mineralization, helping children's bones develop strongly. Vitamin D3 plays a role in regulating the balance of calcium in the blood, supporting bone regeneration, promoting height growth and bone density. Adequate vitamin D3 supplementation is important for bone health, especially in infants and young children.
Vitamin K2 plays an important role in maintaining and developing bone health in infants and young children, helping to activate Osteocalcin Protein to enhance bone mineralization, helping bones to be strong and develop properly. Vitamin K2 also helps prevent calcium from being deposited in the wrong places such as arteries, reducing the risk of vascular calcification.
Supplementing vitamin K2 from diet or supplements can help children grow taller and improve bone health, especially when combined with vitamin D3 to optimize the absorption and use of calcium in the body.
The panel recommends that adequate intake of vitamin D3 and vitamin K2 through diet or supplementation is necessary to maintain healthy bones.
At the same time, further research is needed to explore the role of combining vitamin D3 and vitamin K2 for at-risk populations such as children, the elderly, and pregnant women.
