Jun 12, 2009 By VRP Staff Vitamin K1 was studied to evaluate its potential benefits regarding coronary artery calcification. The coronary arteries are the primary blood vessels that supply the heart with blood. Coronary artery disease (CAD) occurs when these blood vessels become blocked, often due to the build-up of plaque on the artery walls, known as atherosclerosis. These plaques consist of cholesterol, fat, and calcium. The plaques can result in hardening of the arteries, decreased blood flow to the heart, increased blood pressure, chest pain (angina), shortness of breath, and may lead to a heart attack. CAD is the most common type of heart disease and is the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women. In a new study, vitamin K1 supplementation was investigated in coronary artery calcification in older men and women. Vitamin K is a cofactor for the activation of the matrix Gla-protein, which inhibits vascular calcification. In this study, 200 older men and women were supplemented with a multivitamin plus 500 mcg of vitamin K1 per day for 3 years. The placebo group consisted of 188 subjects who received only a multivitamin daily. The subjects were evaluated at the beginning of the study and after 3 years for coronary artery calcification. The initial results showed no difference in the progression of coronary artery calcification progression between the group receiving vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) and the placebo group. However, re-analysis of the data found that the subjects who were 85 percent or greater in compliance with the assigned supplementation showed decreased progression of coronary artery calcification with phylloquinone supplementation compared to the control group. Also, the subgroup of participants with pre-existing coronary artery calcification had a 6 percent reduction in progression of coronary artery calcification compared to the placebo group. These changes in calcification were independent of changes in serum matrix Gla-protein. The study authors concluded that vitamin K1 supplementation “slows the progression of coronary artery calcification in healthy older adults with preexisting coronary artery calcification, independent of its effect on total matrix Gla-protein concentrations. Because our data are hypothesis-generating, further studies are warranted to clarify this mechanism.” Reference: Shea MK, O’Donnell CJ, Hoffmann U, Dallal GE, Dawson-Hughes B, Ordovas JM, Price PA, Williamson MK, Booth SL. Vitamin K supplementation and progression of coronary artery calcium in older men and women. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Jun;89(6):1799-807. |
