Vitamin K2 and D supplementation reduces risk of coronary artery calcification, says recent study

Photo © AdobeStock.com/Маргарита Медведева

A recent clinical trial reveals a link between vitamin K2 MK-7 (K2Vital Delta from Kappa Bioscience) and vitamin D supplementation and the development of coronary artery calcification development, which is a strong predictor acute myocardial infarction. Commissioned in 2018, the Aortic Valve Decalcification Trial (AVADEC study) investigated the effects of vitamin K supplementation through the quantification of calcium deposits in the aortic valves and the coronary arteries. A subgroup analysis of the study observed that vitamin K2 MK-7 (720 µg/day) and D (25 µg/day) supplementation for two years helped slow the progression of coronary plaque development in individuals at high risk of developing coronary artery calcification with no prior identified ischemic heart disease. Researchers also observed that the number of cardiovascular events such as acute myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, and all-cause death, while limited in number, was lower in the group receiving vitamin K2 MK-7 and D, compared to placebo.

“These findings add to a growing bank of evidence demonstrating the benefits of vitamin K2 MK-7 for heart health, but this is the first clinical trial documenting effects directly on calcium deposits in the coronary arteries,” stated Trygve Bergeland, vice president, science and product development, for Kappa Bioscience, in a press release. “We’re thrilled to be at the forefront of such pivotal research in the cardiovascular space and for our K2Vital solution to be at the center of it all. We’ve been interested in the science behind ‘The Perfect Pair’ – that is vitamin K2 MK-7 supplementation in combination with vitamin D – for some time now. The positive discoveries from the AVADEC trial signal an exciting advancement in our continued efforts to understand the full benefits of this vitamin combination.”

“Emerging science shows that vitamin K2 and D supplementation play an important role in heart health. But there is limited research that delves deeper into the mechanism of action behind this,” said principal investigator of the AVADEC study, Professor Axel Diederichsen from the Odense University Hospital in Denmark. “We were interested in exploring this further, particularly the effects of vitamin K2 deficiency on coronary artery calcifications, which we know is strongly associated with higher risk of heart attack and death. Although this is just the beginning of our research in this specific field, the initial findings from our subgroup analysis are promising and pave the way for future innovation and research in the cardiovascular space. We’ve already started the preparations for our next trial with the objective to confirm our findings of the AVADEC trial – so watch this space!”

The results of this study were presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Barcelona, Spain, in August 2022. The research has yet to be published.