Vitamin K to reduce Arteries’ Calcification
Vitamin K blocks new arterial calcium buildup as well as decreases levels of calcification by 37 percent, the results of a new study show. These findings have been published by the researchers at Maastricht University, in April 1st issue of the journal of the American Society of Hematology.
“Weakening of arterial calcification may decrease the risk of death in the patients who suffer coronary artery disease and chronic kidney ailment as this arterial calcification foretells the occurrence of cardiovascular problems.” The lead author of the study Leon Schurgers states.
Diet containing warfarin (a blood thinner that is used to bring calcium buildup) was fed to 10-week old male rats by Schurgers and colleagues. These rats were divided into four groups: the first group was fed with warfarin and the other three groups were fed with warfarin-free diet. Different doses of Vitamin K were offered to these three groups and the researchers found that even after the mitigation of warfarin effects, arterial calcium levels were on increase in the group that was fed with the normal dose of Vitamin K.
Contrarily, in the groups that were fed with high quantities of vitamin K1 and K2 the progress of further calcium accumulation was found blocked but more than 37% decrease in previously accumulated arterial calcium was also noted.
The findings have great relevance for those who take blood-thinner medicines that bring arterial calcification by making a protein GLA or MPG inactive. MPG is a powerful inhibitor of calcification and it requires vitamin k for its activation
Vitamin K is abundantly found in various food items like soybeans, dark green vegetables including kale, spinach, broccoli and Brussels sprouts. Similarly, olives and many other oils have sufficient amount of Vitamin K. Such food supplements are also available that include required dosage of vitamin K for human body.
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