Vitamin K is an essential cofactor for MGP, a vitamin K-dependent protein. Without vitamin K2, MGP remains in inactive form. So that, calcium ion is not bound to MGP, accumulates into blood vessel walls and causes vascular calcification.
A study of Johanna and colleagues published in 2004 which usually known as The Rotterdam Study investigated role of vitamin K2 in vascular health. Dietary of 4807 men and women at 50 years old and over were analyzed carefully in this survey. All of them were not have any history of myocardial infarction at the baseline. According to dietary data, researchers divided 4807 subjects into 3 groups:
- Group 1: menaquinone intake below 200 mcg per day
- Group 2: menaquinone intake from 200 mcg to 278 mcg per day
- Group 3: menaquinone intake upper 278 mcg per day
After approximate 10 years (from 1990 to 2000), the risk of coronary heart disease of subjects in three groups were significantly different.
- The risk of coronary heart disease of subjects in group 3 lower 57% than in group 1
- The risk of coronary heart disease of subjects in group 2 lower 27% than in group 1
- The mortality of group 3 lower 26% than group 1
- The mortality of group 2 lower 9% than group 1
The results of this study indicate that supplement menaquinone could reduce the risk of coronary heart disease in middle ages.
Johanna M.G. et al, 2004. Dietary intake of menaquinone is associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease: the Rotterdam study. Journal of Nutrition, 134: 3100-3105
