A recent study published in the scientific journal ERJ Open Research found a link between vitamin K and lung health. This research, conducted by a group of Danish researchers, suggests that vitamin K-rich leafy greens, such as broccoli and spinach, may play an important role in maintaining lung function and preventing certain respiratory conditions, including asthma.
Vitamin K is linked to the proper functioning of our respiratory system
The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Copenhagen, involved a group of 4,092 participants, aged 24 to 77. The team subjected these volunteers to a series of lung function, including spirometry, which assesses the ability of the lungs to take in and release air. Alongside this, the participants also provided information on their overall health status and lifestyle. The results of this investigation suggest a link between the vitamin K and our respiratory system. Indeed, the data collected indicate that individuals with lower vitamin K levels performed less well on tests assessing lung function. More strikingly, these same individuals were twice as likely to report suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), 44% more likely to report asthma episodes and 81% more likely to report wheezing.
“Vitamin K also plays an important role in the blood, heart and bones”
So far, the impact of vitamin K on our lungs was little explored. This vitamin, which is also found in vegetal oils and the cerealsis best known for its role in healing wounds, producing proteins needed for blood clotting, and building healthy bones, as Dr. Torkil Jespersen, a researcher involved in the study, explains: “We already know that vitamin K plays an important role in the blood and research is starting to show that it is also important for the heart and bones, but there has been very little research on vitamin K and the lungs.” This is the first time that a study of this magnitude has examined the relationship between vitamin K and lung function in a large population.
“More studies are needed to assess the benefits of vitamin K supplementation”
However, Dr. Jespersen points out: “Our study findings alone do not alter current recommendations for vitamin K intake, but they do suggest that we need more research to find out whether some people, such as those reached lung disease, may benefit from vitamin K dietary supplements“.
Dr. Samantha Walker, Head of Research and Innovation at Asthma and Lung in the UK, was enthusiastic about the study, saying: “We would like to see further research to be able to determine if vitamin K levels are directly linked to lung function, this could help us understand the impact of diet on people with lung problems”.
Currently, the team of research is working on a clinical trial to assess the effects of a vitamin K supplement on heart and bone health. The researchers say that these results could also enrich their understanding of the relationship between vitamin K and lung health, thereby contributing to strategies for preventing and maintaining lung disease. respiratory health.
What is the recommended daily intake of vitamin K?
According to the National Institutes of Health in the United States, an adequate intake of vitamin K for people aged 19 and over is 120 micrograms (mcg) per day for men and 90mcg per day for women. Experts say that by eating a varied and balanced diet people should be able to get all the vitamin K they need.
Vitamin K comes from largely from thefoodbut it is also synthesized by the bacteria of the intestinal flora. There are several types of vitamin K, the most important of which are vitamin K1 and vitamin K2.
What Foods Are Highest in Vitamin K?
There vitamin K is found in many foods. There form K1 is particularly present in green leafy vegetables while the form K2 is found in foods of animal origin. You can find it on these foods:
– parsley
– the cabbage
– the salad
– asparagus
– rapeseed oil
– soybean oil
– beef liver
For example, 100 g of cooked spinach represents an average of 400 mcg of vitamin K.
Sources:
- The association of vitamin K status with lung function and disease in a general population.ersjournals.com
- Vitamin K. harvard.edu
On the same subject :
- Vitamin K: role and benefits for the body
- The 15 foods richest in vitamin K
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