Vitamin K-2 Linked to Better Heart Health
Dr. Lee Swanson Research Update
Increased intakes of vitamin K-2 from dietary sources may reduce the build-up of calcium in arteries that leads to hardening of the blood vessels, a new study says. A higher intake of K-2, but not vitamin K-1, was associated with a 20% reduction in calcification of the arteries.
"This study shows that high intake of menaquinone (K-2), but probably not phylloquinone (K-1), is associated with reduced coronary calcification. Adequate intakes of menaquinone could therefore be important for the prevention of cardiovascular disease," wrote lead author Joline Beulens.
The study, which examined the dietary habits and cardiovascular health of 564 post-menopausal women, adds to a growing body of science linking the vitamin to improved heart health.
Beulens and co-workers assessed the diets of the 564 women (average age 67, average BMI 26.7 kg per sq. m) using a 77-item food frequency questionnaire. A technique called multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) was used to assess levels of arterial calcification.
The researchers report that the average intake of vitamin K-1 was 217 micrograms per day, while vitamin K-2 intakes averaged 31.6 micrograms per day for the whole study population. Furthermore, 82% of the K-1 came from vegetables, while K-2 came predominantly from cheese (54%), milk products (22%) and meat (15%).
Based on the MDCT exam, 62% of the women had calcification of the arteries, the researchers said. When the intakes of K-1 and K-2 were divided into four groups from the lowest to the highest, no association was found between K-1 intakes and calcification. However, high consumption of K-2 (about 45 micrograms per day) was associated with 20% decreased coronary calcification with low consumption of K-2 (about 18 micrograms per day).
Atherosclerosis Published online ahead of print.
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