THERE IS DISCLOSED HEREIN A METHOD OF INCREASING BONE DENSITY, MAINTAINING BONE DENSITY AND/OR INHIBITING LOSS OF BONE DENSITY AND/OR REDUCING OSTEOCHONDRAL DEFECTS IN AN ANIMAL COMPRISING ADMINISTERING TO AN ANIMAL AN EFFECTIVE AMOUNT OF A COMPOSITION CONTAINING: VITAMIN K1, VITAMIN K2 OR A MIXTURE OF VITAMIN K1 AND VITAMIN K2, TOGETHER WITH A PHYSIOLOGICALLY ACCEPTABLE CARRIER, INCIPIENT AND/OR DILUENT. VARIOUS COMPOSITIONS INCLUDING VITAMIN K ARE ALSO DISCLOSED .