Effects of nutritional intervention upon bone turnover in elderly hip fracture patients. Randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Hip fracture patients are at great risk of malnutrition, but documentation of the effect of nutrition supplementation in this group is sparse and inconclusive. The aim of this study was to examine if personalized nutrition advice combined with vitamin K1, Ca and vitamin D could improve bone turnover 4 months after hip fracture. This is a preplanned sub study of a randomized controlled trial of orthogeriatric care. The intervention group received orthogeriatric care, including nutrition advice and supplementation. The control group received usual care at the orthopedic ward. Blood was drawn for measurements of a number of vitamins and of bone turnover markers upon admission and at four months follow up. 71 patients (31 in the intervention group and 40 controls) had available data at 4monthsas well as at baseline. After four months, vitamin K1 and 25(OH)D were higher in the intervention group compared with controls; vitamin K1: 1.0±1.2 vs 0.6±0.6ng/ml, p=0.09, 25(OH)D: 60±29 vs 43±22nmol/L, p=0.01 when adjusted for baseline differences. In a secondary, unadjusted analysis, comprising all patients with available four months data (n=136), the differences were statistically significant for vitamin K1 as well as 25(OH)D (p=0.03 and p<0.001, respectively). There was a non-significant increase in 25(OH)D in the intervention group from baseline to 4 months follow up, and a significant decrease in the control group. There was no difference in bone turnover markers between the two groups at 4 months follow up. A substantial loss of weight and physical function was found in both groups. The supplementation of 25(OH)D and vitamin K1 improved serum concentrations of these vitamins, but this did not translate into any improvement in the bone turnover markers. The RCT is registered in ClinicalTrials.govNCT01009268 and NCT01738776.