New Research Links Low Vitamin K Status to Cardiovascular Risk

Two recently-published observational studies found associations between low vitamin K status and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Vitamin K2 is an inhibitor of vascular calcification, through carboxylating Gla-proteins.

Multiple studies have shown that higher amounts of circulating matrix Gla-protein (dp-ucMGP), a primary marker of low vitamin K status, are associated with an increased risk of vascular calcification, cardiovascular disease, and other health complications.

The first of two recent studies, published in the European Journal of Nutrition, investigated the relationship between dp-ucMGP and cardiovascular risk factors. After analyzing data from more than 4,000 adults, the researchers found that those with higher dp-ucMGP levels were more likely to have central obesity, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and impaired kidney function. The findings provide groundwork for prospective studies to examine the effects of improving vitamin K status to clarify the potential role vitamin K in relation to these cardiovascular disease risk factors, the authors concluded.

The second study, published in Atherosclerosis, assessed data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) cohort of 2,663 participants. The researchers found that participants in this cohort who presented high dp-ucMGP levels were correlated with long-term progression of coronary artery and aortic calcification over a 10-year observational period. These associations were strongest in older participants, and in those with diabetes, the authors found, but across the entire population, this marker of low vitamin K2 status appeared to accelerate vascular calcification.

Further Validation of Earlier Studies

Gnosis by Lesaffre, a vitamin K2 supplier, noted that these recent findings further build upon previous work, such as a 2012 study that found that low-dose supplementation with menaquinone-7, a form of K2, improved extrahepatic vitamin K status and carboxylation of MGP, or a 2015 study which linked vitamin K2 supplementation to reversed arterial stiffness in 244 postmenopausal women.

“Statistics released by the American Heart Association are somewhat grim: the projected rise in heart disease and stroke is rapidly climbing and is likely to triple in related costs to $1.8 trillion by 2050. Therefore, providing the public with safe, natural, and effective tools to protect cardiovascular function is critical. Clinical studies demonstrate that MenaQ7 supplementation effectively improves extrahepatic vitamin K2 status, significantly promoting cardiovascular health, especially when consumed long-term,” said Kimmo Makinen.