Vitamin K2 Reduces Arterial Calcification

MORRISTOWN, N.J.—PL Thomas and NattoPharma announced a new study, accepted by Atherosclerosis journal, demonstrated the association of high dietary vitamin K2 consumption with reduction of coronary calcification in humans.
Researchers at University Medical Center Utrecht, Wageningen University and Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam investigated whether daily consumption of natural phylloquinone (K1) and menaquinones (K2) might be related to the extent of calcification within the vasculature of 564 healthy, post-menopausal women. The study was undertaken to examine the hypothesis that natural vitamin K plays a crucial role in the prevention of heart disease. Researchers found high consumption of natural vitamin K2, about 45 mcg daily, was associated with 20-percent decreased coronary calcification as compared with low consumption of K2, of about 18 mcg daily. Preventing arterial calcification is important for a healthy and flexible vasculature. Further, for vitamin K1 no such correlation was found.
"This study confirms once again that natural vitamin K2, also called the menaquinones, is clearly linked to the prevention of cardiovascular disease," said vitamin K expert Leon J Schurgers, senior scientist from VitaK, at the Maastricht University in the Netherlands. "While all K vitamins are important, it seems that especially the natural vitamin K2 intake is essential to cardiovascular health."

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