Abstract
This study aimed to investigate whether vitamin K2 (menatetrenone) suppresses bone mineral density (BMD) loss in the irradiated region after radiotherapy (RT) in uterine cancer patients. Our study included 34 patients who underwent whole pelvic irradiation for uterine cancer between 2001 and 2010. The patients were categorized in two groups: (1) Vitamin K2 (45mg/day) administration group (group A) with 18 cases and (2) non-administered group (group B) with 16 cases. The duration of vitamin K2 administration was 1year or longer. BMD was measured before and immediately, 3months, 6months, 1year, 1year or more after RT. Regarding change rate in the BMD of L3-L4 which was outside the irradiated field, no significant changes were observed in BMD after radiation in either groups compared to BMD before radiotherapy. Regarding change rate in BMD of L5-S1 which was inside the irradiated field, BMD reduced significantly at 6months after radiotherapy compared to BMD before the start of radiotherapy in Group B (P = 0.0234). However, no significant change was seen in group A. Grade 2 and 3 insufficiency fractures appeared in both groups, one in each. Regarding outside the irradiation field, one patient developed compression fracture in L2 in group B, none occurred in group A. CONCLUSION: We suggest that vitamin K2 could suppress the decrease in BMD due to whole pelvic radiotherapy. Further studies are needed in the future to improve quality of life such as the prevention of insufficiency fractures.
Published Version
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