Certain vitamins can help improve heart health. Here is what you need to know about the relationship between vitamin K and your heart.
According to recent research by Edith Cowan University (ECU), eating a diet rich in vitamin K may lower your risk of cardiovascular disease (CAD). The paper, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, examines data from over 50,000 people.
There are two types of dietary vitamin K: K1 (from green leafy vegetables) and K2 (from meat and fermented foods). The study suggests that consuming more vitamin K1 may reduce the risk of hospitalization due to atherosclerosis-related CAD by 21%.
Furthermore, it suggests that vitamin K2 consumption can reduce the risk by about 14%. The risk reduction applies to all types of atherosclerosis-related heart diseases, particularly peripheral artery disease (with a 34% reduction).
Study Findings
According to Dr. Nicola Bondonno, ECU researcher and senior author on the study, the research highlights vitamin K’s importance. “Current dietary guidelines for the consumption of vitamin K are generally only based on the amount of vitamin K1 a person should consume to ensure that their blood can coagulate,” says Bondonno.
“However, there is growing evidence that intakes of vitamin K above the current guidelines can afford further protection against the development of other diseases, such as atherosclerosis. Although more research is needed to fully understand the process, we believe that vitamin K works by protecting against the calcium build-up in the major arteries of the body leading to vascular calcification.”
Dr. Jamie Bellinge, University of Western Australia researcher and first author on the study, further explains vitamin K’s potential: “Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of death… and there’s still a limited understanding of the importance of different vitamins found in food and their effect on heart attacks, strokes, and peripheral artery disease.”
Bellinge continues: “These findings shed light on the potentially important effect that vitamin K has on the killer disease and reinforces the importance of a healthy diet in preventing it.”
Vitamin K and Your Heart
According to Bondonno, “the next phase of the research will involve developing and improving databases on the vitamin K2 content of foods. More research into the different dietary sources and effects of different types of vitamin K2 is a priority.”
As you shop for food and groceries, consider including vitamin K-rich foods in your diet. In fact, by consuming nutritious foods with various vitamins and minerals, you’ll be improving your health regardless.
In addition to your diet, you can give your heart health an extra boost by taking L-arginine Plus. As a daily supplement, it can effectively promote your circulation, blood pressure health, cholesterol health, and more. Give your heart health the support it deserves by adding nutritious foods to your diet and taking L-arginine Plus.