Study Looks at Impact of Low Vitamin K on Lung Function

Low vitamin K status is associated with lower ventilatory capacity and with increased odds of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), wheezing, and asthma, according to a study published online Aug. 9 in ERJ Open Research.

Torkil Jespersen, from the Center for Clinical Research and Prevention at Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark, and colleagues examined whether lower vitamin K status reflected by higher dephosphorylated-uncarboxylated Matrix Gla Protein (dp-ucMGP) is associated with lung function and lung disease/symptoms in a general population sample of 4,092 individuals aged 24 to 77 years. Using regression models adjusted for age, sex, and height, associations of dp-ucMGP with lung function and self-reported disease/symptoms were estimated.

The researchers found that lower vitamin K status (higher dp-ucMGP) was associated with lower forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) and lower forced vital capacity (FVC). There was no association observed for dp-ucMGP with the FEV1/FVC ratio. Lower vitamin K status was associated with COPD, wheezing, and asthma (odds ratios, 2.24, 1.81, and 1.44, respectively).

"On their own, our findings do not alter current recommendations for vitamin K intake, but they do suggest that we need more research on whether some people, such as those with lung disease, could benefit from vitamin K supplementation," Jesperson said in a statement.

Several authors received grant and investigational products from Kappa Bioscience A/S for an intervention trial using vitamin K supplements.

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