Vitamin K2 Levels Linked to Healthier Arteries, K1 vs K2 study in Artherosclerosis

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Vitamin K2 Levels Linked to Healthier Arteries

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By VRP Staff

http://www.vrp.com/articles.aspx?page=LIST & ProdID=2439 & zTYPE=2

Higher intakes of vitamin K2 are linked to reduced levels of the

arterial calcium deposits responsible for arteriosclerosis, researchers

report in a new study.

Although past studies have shown that dietary vitamin K may decrease the

risk of cardiovascular disease, results have been inconsistent.

Researchers believe the reason for this may be because some studies have

used vitamin K1 and other studies vitamin K2. Few studies have compared

both forms of vitamins.

In the current study, researchers set out to compare the effects of

vitamin K1 and K2 on arterial health. The scientists used a

food-frequency questionnaire to determine intakes of vitamin K1 and K2

in 564 post-menopausal women.

Results indicated that 62 percent (360) of the women had coronary

calcification. Although high vitamin K1 intake was not associated with a

reduction in hardening of the women's arteries, higher vitamin K2 intake

(about 45 micrograms per day) was associated with decreased coronary

calcification compared to subjects who consumed the least vitamin K2 per

day (about 18 micrograms). Subjects with the highest vitamin K2 intakes

experienced a 20 percent reduction in calcification of the arteries.

According to the researchers, " This study shows that high dietary

menaquinone [vitamin K2] intake, but probably not phylloquinone [vitamin

K1], is associated with reduced coronary calcification. Adequate

menaquinone [vitamin K2] intakes could therefore be important to prevent

cardiovascular disease. "

Reference...

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*1: *Atherosclerosis. 2008 Jul 19. [Epub ahead of print]

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<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/utils/fref.fcgi?PrId=3048 & itool=AbstractPlus\

-def & uid=18722618 & db=pubmed & url=http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S002\

1-9150%2808%2900507-8>

High dietary menaquinone intake is associated with reduced

coronary calcification.

Beulens JW, Bots ML, Atsma F, Bartelink ML, Prokop M, Geleijnse JM,

Witteman JC, Grobbee DE, van der Schouw YT.

Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University

Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

BACKGROUND: Dietary vitamin K is thought to decrease risk of

cardiovascular disease by reducing coronary calcification, but

inconsistent results are reported. This may be due to different

effects of vitamin K(1) (phylloquinone) and vitamin K(2)

(menaquinone, MK), but few studies included both. METHODS: We

investigated the association of intake of phylloquinone and

menaquinone, including its subtypes (MK4-MK10), with coronary

calcification in a cross-sectional study among 564 post-menopausal

women. Phylloquinone and menaquinone intake was estimated using a

food-frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: Sixty-two percent (n=360) of

the women had coronary calcification based on 1.5-mm thick slices.

Phylloquinone intake was not associated with coronary calcification

with a relative risk (RR) of 1.17 (95%-confidence interval:

0.96-1.42; p(trend)=0.11) of the highest versus lowest quartile.

Menaquinone intake was associated with decreased coronary

calcification with an RR of 0.80 (95%-CI: 0.65-0.98; p(trend)=0.03).

CONCLUSION: This study shows that high dietary menaquinone intake,

but probably not phylloquinone, is associated with reduced coronary

calcification. Adequate menaquinone intakes could therefore be

important to prevent cardiovascular disease.

PMID: 18722618