Abstract

The Role of Vitamin K2 in Cardiovascular Health

Author(s): Besir Besir, Samir R. Kapadia

Vitamin K naturally occurs as two structurally similar but functionally different vitamins: K1 and K2. Vitamin K2 activates Matrix Gla Protein (MGP) which acts as an inhibitor of vascular calcification. Vitamin K2 plays a role in cardiovascular health. It slows down the progression of coronary artery and aortic valve calcification by inhibiting vascular and valvular calcification. It also has an impact on metabolic syndrome, heart failure, microvascular function, and the progression of arterial stiffness. Vitamin K deficiency was shown to correlate with worse clinical outcomes. Additionally, vitamin K2 supplementation is safe and has been the focus of numerous studies and randomized clinical trials. While some trials have shown no significant effect of supplementation in mitigating coronary artery or valvular calcification, the overall findings remain promising. Many methods and assays to assess vitamin K status and function exist, however, in clinical practice, Protein Induced by Vitamin K Absence/antagonism (PIVKA-II) and vitamin K1 are commonly used together.