Diet plays a key role in our health and well-being and there is an increasing number of scientific evidences that prove it. Now, a new study involving 4,092 people between the ages of 24 and 77 living in Copenhagen, Denmark, has revealed that those with low levels of vitamin K in their blood were more likely to have poor lung function and suffer from asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and wheezing.
Vitamin K is found in green leafy vegetables -such as cabbages, cabbage, broccoli, spinach or parsley, among others-, vegetable oils and cereals, and is involved in blood coagulation, so it it helps the body to heal wounds, however very little is known about its role in lung health.
The study has been carried out by Danish researchers from the University Hospital of Copenhagen and the University of Copenhagen, who have published their findings in ERJ Open Researchnoting that the new findings do not change current recommendations on vitamin K intake, but highlight the need for more research to see if some people might benefit from taking vitamin K supplements.
Poor lung function associated with vitamin K deficiency
Study participants took lung function tests, called spirometry, which measure the amount of air a person can breathe out in one second (forced expiratory volume, or FEV1) and the total volume of air a person can breathe in with one forceful breath (capacity). forced vitality or FVC), provided blood samples and answered questionnaires about their health and lifestyle. The blood tests included a marker of low vitamin K levels in the body called dp-ucMGP.
“We need more research on whether some people, such as those with lung disease, might benefit from vitamin K supplementation.”
The researchers found that people with markers of low vitamin K levels had lower FEV1 and lower FVC on average. People with lower vitamin K levels were also more likely to say they had COPD, asthma or wheezing.
“We already know that vitamin K has an important role in the blood and research is beginning to show that it is also important in heart and bone health, but there has been very little research looking at vitamin K and the lungs. To what extent “We know, this is the first study on vitamin K and lung function in a large general population. Our results suggest that vitamin K may play a role in maintaining the health of our lungs,” said Dr. Torkil Jespersen , one of the researchers.
“On their own, our findings do not alter current recommendations on vitamin K intake, but they do suggest that we need more research into whether some people, such as those with lung disease, might benefit from vitamin K supplementation.”
The research team is already working on a large clinical trial comparing vitamin K supplementation with a placebo to look at the effects on heart and bone health in the general population (the InterVitaminK trial). Based on their new results, they will now include lung function tests in this trial.
