Scientists from Amsterdam UMC (location VUmc) report that higher vitamin K levels in the body are associated with better heart health in women.
Vitamin K plays an essential role in producing proteins needed for blood clotting and bone formation.
It exists in two main forms. The primary type, phylloquinone (vitamin K1), is found in green leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach, and collard greens. The second type, menaquinones (vitamin K2), is found in certain animal products and fermented foods.
Previous research has suggested that vitamin K may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart failure, possibly by limiting vascular calcification — the buildup of mineral deposits in the walls of blood vessels.
These calcifications often accumulate alongside fatty plaques and can contribute to artery stiffening and reduced blood flow.
However, it has been unclear whether vitamin K intake directly affects heart structure and function.
In the current study, researchers examined the relationship between vitamin K status and heart health measures.
The study included 427 older adults. Participants’ vitamin K status was measured at the start of the study, and dietary intake was assessed using a validated food-frequency questionnaire.
Researchers evaluated several indicators of heart structure and function, including left ventricular ejection fraction, left atrial volume index, and left ventricular mass index.
Left ventricular mass reflects the weight of the heart’s main pumping chamber and is commonly assessed using echocardiography. Increased left ventricular mass is associated with long-term high blood pressure and greater risk of heart disease.
The researchers found that higher vitamin K levels were associated with lower left ventricular mass in women.
Women with the highest vitamin K levels had significantly reduced left ventricular mass compared with those with the lowest levels. No similar association was observed in men.
Vitamin K status was not associated with other measures of heart structure or function.
These findings suggest that higher vitamin K status may help protect heart health in women by reducing left ventricular mass, a known risk factor for heart failure.
The researchers note that the results support earlier evidence linking vitamin K to reduced cardiovascular risk, but further studies are needed to confirm the findings.
The study was conducted by Joline W. J. Beulens and colleagues and published in the journal Nutrition Journal.
