Warfarin and Vitamin K
People taking warfarin (Coumadin) are at higher risk for atherosclerosis and osteoporosis (brittle bones) because the drug increases arterial calcification and decreases bone calcification. A study in the journal Pharmacotherapy demonstrated the safety and benefit of low-dose vitamin K supplementation in patients taking warfarin. However, it is imperative that a person who takes blood thinners use vitamin K2 only under the close supervision of a doctor.
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. (more…)