Effects of Vitamin K₂ (Menaquinone) on Alkaline Phosphatase Activity in Rats Fed a High-fat Diet

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of vitamin K₂ (menaquinone) on alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in rats fed a high-fat diet. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (7 weeks old) were divided into four groups: those fed a basic control diet (C) , those fed menaquinone-4 (MK-4) added to a control diet (K) (MK-4:600 mg/kg diet) , those fed a high-fat diet (F) , and those fed a high-fat diet with MK-4 (FK) (MK-4:600 mg/kg diet) . At 83 days after starting the experimental diet, ALP-specific activity in the duodenum was increased significantly in the FK group compared with that in the F group, and the ALP-specific activity in the duodenum of the K group was increased significantly compared with that in the C group. Furthermore, at 83 days after the beginning of the experimental diet, the ALP-specific activity in the femur was increased significantly in the FK group compared with that in the F group, and the ALP-specific activity in the femur was increased significantly in the K group compared with that in the C group. These results demonstrate that addition of vitamin K₂ to a high-fat diet significantly increases ALP-specific activity in both the intestine and bone.