Vitamin K is traditionally recognized for its role in blood clotting. More recently, new roles for vitamin K have emerged. The current evidence for the role of vitamin K in bone, cardiovascular, and reproductive health will be discussed. There will be a particular focus on populations who could be at risk for vitamin K deficiency.
Ferland G.The vitamin K-dependent proteins: an update. Nutr Rev. 1998;56:223-230.
2.
Shearer MJ, Newman P.Metabolism and cell biology of vitamin K. Thromb Haemost. 2008;100:530-547.
3.
Li J., Lin JC, Wang H., et al. Novel role of vitamin k in preventing oxidative injury to developing oligodendrocytes and neurons. J Neurosci. 2003;23:5816-5826.
4.
Tabb MM, Sun A., Zhou C., et al. Vitamin K2 regulation of bone homeostasis is mediated by the steroid and xenobiotic receptor SXR. J Biol Chem. 2003;278:43919-43927.
5.
Ichikawa T., Horie-Inoue K., Ikeda K., Blumberg B., Inoue S.Vitamin K2 induces phosphorylation of protein kinase A and expression of novel target genes in osteoblastic cells. J Mol Endocrinol. 2007;39:239-247.
6.
Ohsaki Y., Shirakawa H., Hiwatashi K., Furukawa Y., Mizutani T., Komai M.Vitamin K suppresses lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in the rat. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2006;70: 926-932.
7.
Booth SL, Pennington JA, Sadowski JAFood sources and dietary intakes of vitamin K-1 (phylloquinone) in the American diet: data from the FDA Total Diet Study. J Am Diet Assoc . 1996;96: 149-154.
8.
Peterson JW, Muzzey KL, Haytowitz D., Exler J., Lemar L., Booth SLPhylloquinone (vitamin K-1) and dihydrophylloquinone content of fats and oils . J Am Oil Chem Soc. 2002;79: 641-646.
9.
Elder SJ, Haytowitz DB, Howe J., Peterson JW, Booth SLVitamin k contents of meat, dairy, and fast food in the U.S. diet. J Agric Food Chem. 2006;54:463-467.
10.
Ferreira DW , Haytowitz DB, Tassinari MS, Peterson JW, Booth SLVitamin K contents of grains, cereals, fast-food breakfasts, and baked goods. J Food Sci. 2006 ;71:S66-S70.
11.
Schurgers LJ , Vermeer C.Determination of phylloquinone and menaquinones in food. Effect of food matrix on circulating vitamin K concentrations. Haemostasis. 2000;30:298-307.
12.
Institute of Medicine.Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2001.
13.
Booth SLDietary vitamin K guidance: an effective strategy for stable control of oral anticoagulation? Nutr Rev. 2010;68: 178-181.
14.
Lane PA, Hathaway WEVitamin K in infancy. J Pediatr. 1985; 106:351-359.
15.
Crowther CA , Henderson-Smart DJVitamin K prior to preterm birth for preventing neonatal periventricular haemorrhage. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2000;(2):CD000229.
16.
Borowitz D. , Baker RD, Stallings V.Consensus report on nutrition for pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr . 2002;35:246-259.
17.
Dougherty KA , Schall JI, Stallings VASuboptimal vitamin K status despite supplementation in children and young adults with cystic fibrosis. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010;92:660-667.
18.
Tse SL, Chan TY, Wu DM, Cheung AY, Kwok TCDeficient dietary vitamin K intake among elderly nursing home residents in Hong Kong. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2002;11:62-65.
19.
Gundberg CMBiology, physiology, and clinical chemistry of osteocalcin. J Clin Ligand Assay. 1998;21:128-138.
20.
Feskanich D. , Weber P., Willett WC, Rockett H., Booth SL, Colditz GAVitamin K intake and hip fractures in women: a prospective study. Am J Clin Nutr. 1999;69:74-79.
21.
Booth SL, Tucker KL, Chen H., et al. Dietary vitamin K intakes are associated with hip fracture but not with bone mineral density in elderly men and women. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000;71:1201-1208.
22.
Tsugawa N., Shiraki M., Suhara Y., et al. Low plasma phylloquinone concentration is associated with high incidence of vertebral fracture in Japanese women. J Bone Miner Metab. 2008;26:79-85.
23.
Yaegashi Y. , Onoda T., Tanno K., Kuribayashi T., Sakata K., Orimo H.Association of hip fracture incidence and intake of calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, and vitamin K. Eur J Epidemiol. 2008;23:219-225.
24.
Kanai T., Takagi T., Masuhiro K., Nakamura M., Iwata M., Saji F.Serum vitamin K level and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 1997;56:25-30.
25.
Booth SL, Broe KE, Peterson JW, et al. Associations between vitamin K biochemical measures and bone mineral density in men and women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab . 2004;89:4904-4909.
26.
Cockayne S. , Adamson J., Lanham-New S., Shearer MJ, Gilbody S., Torgerson DJVitamin K and the prevention of fractures: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Arch Intern Med. 2006;166:1256-1261.
27.
Tamura T., Morgan SL, Takimoto H.Vitamin K and the prevention of fractures. Arch Intern Med . 2007;167:94.
28.
Braam LA, Knapen MH, Geusens P., et al. Vitamin K1 supplementation retards bone loss in postmenopausal women between 50 and 60 years of age. Calcif Tissue Int. 2003;73:21-26.
29.
Bolton-Smith C., McMurdo ME, Paterson CR, et al. Two-year randomized controlled trial of vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) and vitamin D3 plus calcium on the bone health of older women. J Bone Miner Res. 2007;22:509-519.
30.
Booth SL, Dallal G., Shea MK, Gundberg C., Peterson JW, Dawson-Hughes B.Effect of vitamin K supplementation on bone loss in elderly men and women . J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008; 93:1217-1223.
31.
Binkley N., Harke J., Krueger D., et al. Vitamin K treatment reduces undercarboxylated osteocalcin but does not alter bone turnover, density, or geometry in healthy postmenopausal NorthAmerican women. J Bone Miner Res. 2009 ;24:983-991.
32.
Lukacs JL, Booth S., Kleerekoper M., Ansbacher R., Rock CL, Reame NEDifferential associations for menopause and age in measures of vitamin K, osteocalcin, and bone density: a cross-sectional exploratory study in healthy volunteers. Menopause. 2006;13:799-808.
33.
Shanahan CM , Cary NR, Metcalfe JC, Weissberg PLHigh expression of genes for calcification-regulating proteins in human atherosclerotic plaques. J Clin Invest. 1994;93:2393-2402.
34.
Proudfoot D., Skepper JN, Shanahan CM, Weissberg PLCalcification of human vascular cells in vitro is correlated with high levels of matrix Gla protein and low levels of osteopontin expression. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 1998;18:379-388.
35.
Luo G., Ducy P., McKee MD, et al. Spontaneous calcification of arteries and cartilage in mice lacking matrix GLA protein. Nature. 1997;386:78-81.
36.
Price PA, Faus SA, Williamson MKWarfarin causes rapid calcification of the elastic lamellae in rat arteries and heart valves. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 1998;18:1400-1407.
37.
Schurgers LJ, Spronk HM, Soute BA, Schiffers PM, DeMey JG, Vermeer C.Regression of warfarin-induced medial elastocalcinosis by high intake of vitamin K in rats. Blood. 2007;109:2823-2831.
38.
Braam L., McKeown N., Jacques P., et al. Dietary phylloquinone intake as a potential marker for a heart-healthy dietary pattern in the Framingham Offspring cohort. J Am Diet Assoc. 2004; 104:1410-1414.
39.
Erkkila AT, Booth SL, Hu FB, et al. Phylloquinone intake as a marker for coronary heart disease risk but not stroke in women. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2005;59:196-204.
40.
Erkkila AT, Booth SL, Hu FB, Jacques PF, Lichtenstein AHPhylloquinone intake and risk of cardiovascular diseases in men. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2007;17:58-62.
41.
Geleijnse JM , Vermeer C., Grobbee DE, et al. Dietary intake of menaquinone is associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease: the Rotterdam Study. J Nutr. 2004;134:3100-3105.
42.
Schurgers LJ , Teunissen KJ, Hamulyak K., Knapen MH, Vik H., Vermeer C.Vitamin K-containing dietary supplements: comparison of synthetic vitamin K1 and natto-derived menaquinone-7. Blood. 2007;109:3279-3283.
43.
Braam LA, Hoeks AP, Brouns F., Hamulyak K., Gerichhausen MJ, Vermeer C.Beneficial effects of vitamins D and K on the elastic properties of the vessel wall in postmenopausal women: a follow-up study. Thromb Haemost . 2004;91:373-380.
44.
Shea MK, O’Donnell CJ, Hoffmann U., et al. Vitamin K supplementation and progression of coronary artery calcium in older men and women. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009;89:1799-1807.
45.
Murshed M., Schinke T., McKee MD, Karsenty G.Extracellular matrix mineralization is regulated locally; different roles of two gla-containing proteins. J Cell Biol. 2004;165:625-630.
46.
Huber AM, Davidson KW, O’Brien-Morse ME, Sadowski JATissue phylloquinone and menaquinones in rats are affected by age and gender . J Nutr. 1999;129:1039-1044.
47.
Helms JMAcupuncture for the management of primary dysmenorrhea. Obstet Gynecol. 1987;69:51-56.
48.
Andersch B. , Milsom I.An epidemiologic study of young women with dysmenorrhea. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1982;144: 655-660.
49.
Yu J.Practice and Study of Acupuncture in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Shanghai, China: Shanghai Scientific and Technical Publishing House; 1992.
50.
Wang L., Cardini F., Zhao W., et al. Vitamin K acupuncture point injection for severe primary dysmenorrhea: an international pilot study. MedGenMed. 2004 ;6:45.
51.
Yu J., Chao J.Clinical and experimental study of dysfunctional dysmenorrhea treated by vitamin K. New Drugs Clin Remedies. 1985;5:14-16.
52.
Yasui T., Uemura H., Umino Y., et al. Undercarboxylated osteocalcin concentration in postmenopausal women receiving hormone therapy daily and on alternate days. Menopause. 2006;13: 314-322.
53.
Usda.USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release2 (SR22). http://www.ars.usda.gov/nutrientdata . Accessed September 27, 2010.