Vitamin
K1 slows the build up of calcified plaque in the arteries of both men
and women
June
10,
2009
Researchers at Tufts
University looked for evidence that Vitamin K (looking at K1 only) has
a protective effect in relation to a build up of calcified plaque in
the arteries of elderly people. Calcified plaque build up in the
arteries of the heart is an independent risk for cardiovascular disease
no additional help from other risk factors such as obesity or diabetes.
Coronary artery calcification
(CAC) was measured at the beginning of the trial and after a three year
period in 388 healthy older men and women. 200 of the participants were
supplemented with a multiple-vitamin that included 500 mcg of K1. 188
were supplemented with the multiple-vitamin alone without Vitamin K1.
Oddly, they found that if the participants didn’t take the
supplements they had no benefit (who would have guessed). In the adults
who took the supplements at least 85% of the time there was a decrease
in the progression of CAC by a good 6%; this can have a good effect
over time. The study is published in the June 2009 issue of the
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.