Vitamin K2 battles vascular calcification: Study

A vitamin K2-based GLA protein (MGP) matrix can inhibit vascular calcification according to an industry sponsored study published in Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation.

Targeting those on haemodialysis (assisted removal of bodily waste products), the researchers found vitamin K2 could invigorate a dormant bodily compound called undercarboxylated MGP – thus reducing calcification probability.

NattoPharma supplied the menaquinone version of vitamin K2 (MK-7) for the study that had no control and 165 completers.

“Pharmacological doses of MK-7 dose-dependently reduce [undercarboxylated MGP],” said the researchers led by An S. De Vriese of the Division of Nephrology and Infectious Diseases, at St Jan Hospital in Austria.

“Menaquinone supplementation may be a novel approach to prevent vascular calcifications in chronic haemodialysis patients.”

The patients received either 360, 720 or 1080μg of MK-7 three times weekly for 8 weeks.

Source:

Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation

doi: 10.1093/ndt/gft464

‘Vitamin K2 supplementation in haemodialysis patients: a randomized dose-finding study’

Authors: Rogier Caluwé, Stefaan Vandecasteele, Bruno Van Vlem, Cees Vermeer, An S. De Vriese