Vitamin K2 reduces the risk of prostate cancer
February
03,
2009
Researchers at the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg report that men whose intake of vitamin K2 was in the top 25 % had a 64 % lower risk of developing prostate cancer compared to men whose intake of the vitamin was in the lowest 25%. For every 10 mcg daily increase in vitamin K2 intake, there was an 11 % reduction in the risk of prostate cancer. The intake of Vitamin K intake was estimated by food frequency questionnaire. Follow-up questionnaire responses obtained every 2 to 3 years over an 8 year period were used to ascertain the diagnosis of prostate cancer.
Osteocalcin is an enzyme that builds bone. When Vitamin K intake is insufficient Osteocalcin does not work and it is in a state referred to as undercarboxylated osteocalcin. When this undercarboxylated osteocalcin was high (meaning Vitamin K intake was low) it predicted a greater risk of developing advanced stage and high risk prostate cancer. The study is published in the January 2009 issue of the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.