Atherosclerosis and Coronary Artery Disease Drugs: Vitamin K
Vitamin K not only helps with regulating bone calcification but also protects against harmful arterial calcification. Vitamin K is required for normal function of the protein osteocalcin. When vitamin K is deficient, blood calcium accumulates in the arteries.
Vitamin K sources
The Rotterdam Study, an ongoing European clinical trial started in 1990, evaluated (among many other things) how vitamin K intake affected 4,807 subjects over a period of 7 to 10 years. Results published in the Journal of Nutrition showed that a diet providing 45 mcg per day of vitamin K2 was associated with 50 percent less arterial calcification, a 50 percent decreased cardiovascular mortality risk, and a 25 percent reduction in risk of dying from any cause. Clinical trials also have demonstrated that vitamin K2 improves elasticity of the carotid arteries, thereby promoting better blood flow.
Dosage: take 150 to 200 micrograms of vitamin K2 daily.
Safety: if you are on a blood-thinning medication, consult with your doctor first before supplementing vitamin K.
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Tags: arterial, arteries, blood, calcification, clinical, percent, Vitamins