Vitamin K linked to better lung health in first-of-kind Danish study

Types and benefits of Vitamin K

There are actually two types of Vitamin K that are critical for good health: Vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) comes from green leafy vegetables. Vitamin K2 (menaquinones or MKs) comes from meat, eggs, and fermented foods.

Vitamin K1 travels to liver more effectively than to bones. Liver uses Vitamin K1 to activate proteins needed for blood clotting. Vitamin K2 travels to bone more effectively than K1. Bones use K2 to produce Osteocalcin, a bone-building protein hormone, which also supports metabolic health.

Vitamin K2 also increases the production of Adenosine triphosphate, the compound that provides energy to living cells.

Because of this overlapping and symbiotic nature of the two vitamin Ks, it’s beneficial to include foods that provide both types in one’s diet. For the same reasons, a quality Vitamin K supplement should provide both K1 and K2.

While Vitamin K is crucial for blood clotting and aids in wound healing, according to the Danish researchers its role in lung health has been unclear until now.

The study was published in European Respiratory Journal – Open Research in July 2023.

Currently researchers aren’t suggesting a modification to the existing guidance on Vitamin K consumption; however, they note that the findings do bolster the case for additional research into the potential benefits of Vitamin K supplements.

Study details

This study was conducted by scientists at Copenhagen University Hospital and the University of Copenhagen. The trial included over 4,000 participants ranging in age from 24 to 77.

To accumulate the data, study participants underwent a lung function test called spirometry, contributed blood samples, and provided insights on their health and lifestyle through questionnaires.

One particular blood test marker, dp-ucMGP, was used to identify low levels of Vitamin K. Spirometry gauges the volume of air one can exhale in a second (known as forced expiratory volume or FEV1) and the maximum volume inhaled during one breath, termed forced vital capacity (FVC).

The research revealed a correlation between deficient Vitamin K markers and reduced FEV1 and FVC values. Participants with decreased Vitamin K levels were also more likely to report COPD, asthma, or wheezing incidents.

“We already know that Vitamin K has an important role in the blood and research is beginning to show that it’s also important in heart and bone health, but there’s been very little research looking at Vitamin K and the lungs. To our knowledge, this is the first study on Vitamin K and lung function in a large general population. Our results suggest that Vitamin K could play a part in keeping our lungs healthy,” says Dr. Torkil Jespersen in a media release.

Additional heart health benefit

Though many studies document a link between heart health, bone health and Vitamin K, the Denmark team plans to build on the established research by integrating respiratory health along with the other benefits.

A 2018 study tracking 33,000 people found that increased intakes of Vitamin K2 reduced the risk of mortality from coronary heart disease. Researchers used the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort to compile their data.

Meanwhile, a more recent 2021 Australian study found that a diet rich in Vitamin K can lower the risk of heart disease due to atherosclerosis by over 30 percent.