Fresh Science

Dr Jaz Skinner – Lecturer, University of Southern Queensland

Horses have a bone to pick with Vitamin K: uncovering human-like bone diseases in horses

A promising new blood-test approach for vitamin K may help uncover the role that the vitamin plays in bone-related diseases in horses.

“Horses can suffer from bone related diseases that can significantly impair their performance and wellbeing,” says Dr Jaz Skinner (University of Southern Queensland).

Vitamin K has been linked to bone health, even in humans, via several different proteins. The new technique will help to illuminate the role of these proteins in the bone health of horses and potentially other species.

“We are still discovering newfound roles of vitamin K, and the work is really exciting because the applications of it extend beyond horses,” says Dr Skinner.

Dr Jaz Skinner works with colleagues including Dr Judy Cawdell-Smith, Professor Wayne Bryden, Dr Nana Satake and Dr Pawel Sadowski