A preliminary study suggests that people with higher levels of vitamin K – found in broccoli and spinach, among other nutrients – may have improved lung function than those with lower levels. Vitamin K, which the body requires for blood coagulation and wound healing, was found to reduce the risk of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and wheezing, according to researchers.
Additionally, they were more likely to perform well on respiratory health assessments. Green verdant vegetables, such as broccoli and spinach, as well as vegetable oils and cereal grains contain vitamin K. According to the researchers, their findings are insufficient to prescribe vitamin K supplements for lung health, but they have urged for additional research.
A team of Danish researchers from Copenhagen University Hospital and the University of Copenhagen examined more than 4,000 Copenhagen residents aged 24 to 77 for the journal ERJ Open Research study. Participants in the study underwent spirometry, a lung function test, provided blood samples, and completed health and lifestyle questionnaires. The blood analyses revealed whether or not individuals had insufficient vitamin K levels.
In the meantime, the spirometry test measured how much air a person can exhale in one second and how much air they can take in with one forced inhalation. Researchers discovered that individuals with insufficient vitamin K levels performed worse on these exams.
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Low Vitamin K Linked to Increased COPD and Respiratory Issues, Study Finds
In contrast, people with insufficient vitamin K levels were twice as likely to report having COPD, 81% more likely to report having a wheezing, and 44% more likely to report having asthma.
Dr. Torkil Jespersen, a researcher, stated, “We already know that vitamin K is important for blood health, and research is beginning to indicate that it’s also essential for heart and bone health, but very little research has been conducted on vitamin K and the lungs.”This is the first study on vitamin K and lung function in a large general population, to our knowledge. Our findings do not alter the current vitamin K intake recommendations, but they do suggest that additional research is required to ascertain whether certain individuals, such as those with respiratory disease, could benefit from vitamin K supplementation.”
Dr. Apostolos Bossios from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and secretary of the European Respiratory Society’s assembly on airway diseases stated, “This study suggests that people with low vitamin K levels in their blood may have poorer lung function.”Understanding this relationship and determining whether vitamin K supplementation enhances lung function will require additional research.
Dr. Samantha Walker, director of research and innovation at Asthma and Lung UK, remarked, “This intriguing study examines the relationship between vitamin K and having a lung condition, such as Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are examples.”We would like to see more research in this area to ascertain if vitamin K levels are directly related to lung function, which would help us understand the effect of diet on people with lung conditions.Lung disorders are the third leading cause of mortality in the United Kingdom, making this form of research essential.However, only 2% of public funding is allocated to research into lung conditions, which would help diagnose, treat, and manage them more effectively.
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Source: Independent
