scholarly journals Vitamins K1 and K2: The Emerging Group of Vitamins Required for Human Health

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerry Kurt Schwalfenberg

Objective. To review the evidence for the use of vitamin K supplementation in clinical conditions such as osteoporosis, vascular calcification, arthritis, cancer, renal calculi, diabetes, and warfarin therapy.Quality of Evidence. PubMed was searched for articles on vitamin K (K1 and K2) along with books and conference proceedings and health conditions listed above. Level I and II evidence supports the use of vitamins K1 and K2 in osteoporosis and Level II evidence supports vitamin K2 in prevention of coronary calcification and cardiovascular disease. Evidence is insufficient for use in diabetes, arthritis, renal calculi, and cancer.Main Message.Vitamin K2 may be a useful adjunct for the treatment of osteoporosis, along with vitamin D and calcium, rivaling bisphosphonate therapy without toxicity. It may also significantly reduce morbidity and mortality in cardiovascular health by reducing vascular calcification. Vitamin K2 appears promising in the areas of diabetes, cancer, and osteoarthritis. Vitamin K use in warfarin therapy is safe and may improve INR control, although a dosage adjustment is required.Conclusion. Vitamin K supplementation may be useful for a number of chronic conditions that are afflicting North Americans as the population ages. Supplementation may be required for bone and cardiovascular health.

2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Radulescu ◽  
Andra Elena Balcangiu Stroescu ◽  
Catalin Pricop ◽  
Bogdan Geavlete ◽  
Carolina Negrei ◽  
...  

Cardiovascular disease causes increased mortality in chronic hemodialysed patients. The decrease of vascular calcification is one of the main targets in the management of these patients. According to several experimental and clinical trials, choosing the proper diet and prescribing vitamin K2 supplements help to improve prognosis and decrease mortality, but further larger researchers are required to advocate the importance of this dietary intervention in hemodialysed population.


2014 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 172-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margueritta El Asmar ◽  
Joseph Naoum ◽  
Elias Arbid

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (10) ◽  
pp. 2434-2445
Author(s):  
Miles D. Witham ◽  
Jennifer S. Lees ◽  
Myra White ◽  
Margaret Band ◽  
Samira Bell ◽  
...  

BackgroundVascular calcification, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, is common among patients with CKD and is an independent contributor to increased vascular stiffness and vascular risk in this patient group. Vitamin K is a cofactor for proteins involved in prevention of vascular calcification. Whether or not vitamin K supplementation could improve arterial stiffness in patients with CKD is unknown.MethodsTo determine if vitamin K supplementation might improve arterial stiffness in patients in CKD, we conducted a parallel-group, double-blind, randomized trial in participants aged 18 or older with CKD stage 3b or 4 (eGFR 15–45 ml/min per 1.73 m2). We randomly assigned participants to receive 400 μg oral vitamin K2 or matching placebo once daily for a year. The primary outcome was the adjusted between-group difference in carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity at 12 months. Secondary outcomes included augmentation index, abdominal aortic calcification, BP, physical function, and blood markers of mineral metabolism and vascular health. We also updated a recently published meta-analysis of trials to include the findings of this study.ResultsWe included 159 randomized participants in the modified intention-to-treat analysis, with 80 allocated to receive vitamin K and 79 to receive placebo. Mean age was 66 years, 62 (39%) were female, and 87 (55%) had CKD stage 4. We found no differences in pulse wave velocity at 12 months, augmentation index at 12 months, BP, B-type natriuretic peptide, or physical function. The updated meta-analysis showed no effect of vitamin K supplementation on vascular stiffness or vascular calcification measures.ConclusionsVitamin K2 supplementation did not improve vascular stiffness or other measures of vascular health in this trial involving individuals with CKD.Clinical Trial registry name and registration numberVitamin K therapy to improve vascular health in patients with chronic kidney disease, ISRCTN21444964 (www.isrctn.com)


Open Heart ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. e001715
Author(s):  
Essa Hariri ◽  
Nicholas Kassis ◽  
Jean-Pierre Iskandar ◽  
Leon J Schurgers ◽  
Anas Saad ◽  
...  

Vitamin K2 serves an important role in cardiovascular health through regulation of calcium homeostasis. Its effects on the cardiovascular system are mediated through activation of the anti-calcific protein known as matrix Gla protein. In its inactive form, this protein is associated with various markers of cardiovascular disease including increased arterial stiffness, vascular and valvular calcification, insulin resistance and heart failure indices which ultimately increase cardiovascular mortality. Supplementation of vitamin K2 has been strongly associated with improved cardiovascular outcomes through its modification of systemic calcification and arterial stiffness. Although its direct effects on delaying the progression of vascular and valvular calcification is currently the subject of multiple randomised clinical trials, prior reports suggest potential improved survival among cardiac patients with vitamin K2 supplementation. Strengthened by its affordability and Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA)-proven safety, vitamin K2 supplementation is a viable and promising option to improve cardiovascular outcomes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 421-430
Author(s):  
Zar Chi Thent ◽  
Gabriele R.A. Froemming ◽  
Suhaila Abd Muid

Increasing interest in vascular pseudo-ossification has alarmed the modern atherosclerotic society. High phosphate is one of the key factors in vascular pseudo ossification, also known as vascular calcification. The active process of deposition of the phosphate crystals in vascular tissues results in arterial stiffness. High phosphate condition is mainly observed in chronic kidney disease patients. However, prolonged exposure with high phosphate enriched foods such as canned drinks, dietary foods, etc. can be considered as modifiable risk factors for vascular complication in a population regardless of chronic kidney disease. High intake of vitamin K regulates the vascular calcification by exerting its anti-calcification effect. The changes in serum phosphate and vitamin K levels in a normal individual with high phosphate intake are not well investigated. This review summarised the underlying mechanisms of high phosphate induced vascular pseudo ossification such as vascular transdifferentiation, vascular apoptosis and phosphate uptake by sodium-dependent co-transporters. Pubmed, Science Direct, Scopus, ISI Web of Knowledge and Google Scholar were searched using the terms ‘vitamin K’, ‘vascular calcification, ‘phosphate’, ‘transdifferentiation’ and ‘vascular pseudoossification’. Vitamin K certainly activates the matrix GIA protein and inhibits vascular transition and apoptosis in vascular pseudo-ossification. The present view highlighted the possible therapeutic linkage between vitamin K and the disease. Understanding the role of vitamin K will be considered as potent prophylaxis agent against the vascular disease in near future.


Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 737
Author(s):  
Marko Kumric ◽  
Josip A. Borovac ◽  
Tina Ticinovic Kurir ◽  
Dinko Martinovic ◽  
Ivan Frka Separovic ◽  
...  

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is widely recognized as one of the most important clinical entities. In recent years, a large body of accumulated data suggest that coronary artery calcification, a process highly prevalent in patients with CAD, occurs via well-organized biologic processes, rather than passively, as previously regarded. Matrix Gla protein (MGP), a vitamin K-dependent protein, emerged as an important inhibitor of both intimal and medial vascular calcification. The functionality of MGP hinges on two post-translational modifications: phosphorylation and carboxylation. Depending on the above-noted modifications, various species of MGP may exist in circulation, each with their respective level of functionality. Emerging data suggest that dysfunctional species of MGP, markedly, dephosphorylated-uncarboxylated MGP, might find its application as biomarkers of microvascular health, and assist in clinical decision making with regard to initiation of vitamin K supplementation. Hence, in this review we summarized the current knowledge with respect to the role of MGP in the complex network of vascular calcification with concurrent inferences to CAD. In addition, we discussed the effects of warfarin use on MGP functionality, with concomitant implications to coronary plaque stability.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1222
Author(s):  
Domitilla Mandatori ◽  
Letizia Pelusi ◽  
Valeria Schiavone ◽  
Caterina Pipino ◽  
Natalia Di Pietro ◽  
...  

Osteoporosis (OP) and vascular calcification (VC) represent relevant health problems that frequently coexist in the elderly population. Traditionally, they have been considered independent processes, and mainly age-related. However, an increasing number of studies have reported their possible direct correlation, commonly defined as “bone-vascular crosstalk”. Vitamin K2 (VitK2), a family of several natural isoforms also known as menaquinones (MK), has recently received particular attention for its role in maintaining calcium homeostasis. In particular, VitK2 deficiency seems to be responsible of the so-called “calcium paradox” phenomenon, characterized by low calcium deposition in the bone and its accumulation in the vessel wall. Since these events may have important clinical consequences, and the role of VitK2 in bone-vascular crosstalk has only partially been explained, this review focuses on its effects on the bone and vascular system by providing a more recent literature update. Overall, the findings reported here propose the VitK2 family as natural bioactive molecules that could be able to play an important role in the prevention of bone loss and vascular calcification, thus encouraging further in-depth studies to achieve its use as a dietary food supplement.


2009 ◽  
Vol 297 (6) ◽  
pp. C1358-C1367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald J. Atkins ◽  
Katie J. Welldon ◽  
Asiri R. Wijenayaka ◽  
Lynda F. Bonewald ◽  
David M. Findlay

The vitamin K family members phylloquinone (vitamin K1) and the menaquinones (vitamin K2) are under study for their roles in bone metabolism and as potential therapeutic agents for skeletal diseases. We have investigated the effects of two naturally occurring homologs, phytonadione (vitamin K1) and menatetrenone (vitamin K2), and those of the synthetic vitamin K, menadione (vitamin K3), on human primary osteoblasts. All homologs promoted in vitro mineralization by these cells. Vitamin K1-induced mineralization was highly sensitive to warfarin, whereas that induced by vitamins K2 and K3 was less sensitive, implying that γ-carboxylation and other mechanisms, possibly genomic actions through activation of the steroid xenobiotic receptor, are involved in the effect. The positive effect on mineralization was associated with decreased matrix synthesis, evidenced by a decrease from control in expression of type I collagen mRNA, implying a maturational effect. Incubation in the presence of vitamin K2 or K3 in a three-dimensional type I collagen gel culture system resulted in increased numbers of cells with elongated cytoplasmic processes resembling osteocytes. This effect was not warfarin sensitive. Addition of calcein to vitamin K-treated cells revealed vitamin K-dependent deposition of mineral associated with cell processes. These effects are consistent with vitamin K promoting the osteoblast-to-osteocyte transition in humans. To test whether vitamin K may also act on mature osteocytes, we tested the effects of vitamin K on MLO-Y4 cells. Vitamin K reduced receptor activator of NF-κB ligand expression relative to osteoprotegerin by MLO-Y4 cells, an effect also seen in human cultures. Together, our findings suggest that vitamin K promotes the osteoblast-to-osteocyte transition, at the same time decreasing the osteoclastogenic potential of these cells. These may be mechanisms by which vitamin K optimizes bone formation and integrity in vivo and may help explain the net positive effect of vitamin K on bone formation.


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