Vitamin K Lowers Diabetes Risk

Vitamin K is a group of structurally similar, fat-soluble vitamins. There are 2 known natural vitamin K vitamers –K1 (phylloquinone) and K2 (menaquinones) – both of which play a role in the posttranslational modification of certain proteins, blood coagulation, and in metabolic pathways in bone and other tissue.  Monica Bullo, from Universitat Rovira i Virgili (Spain), and colleagues analyzed data from 1069 men and women, average age 67.5 years, who were enrolled in the Prevention with the Mediterranean Diet study. None of the subjects had diabetes at the study’s start, but 5 1/2 years later 131 people developed the disease. The team reported that vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) levels at the start of the study were linked to type-2diabetes risk, with higher levels linked to lower risk of the disease. Specifically, the highest average intakes of vitamin K1 associated with the total reduction in the risk of diabetes by 51%, compared to people with the lowest average intakes levels. Further, the researchers observed that for every 100 microgram per day increase in the intake of vitamin K1, the risk of developing diabetes decreased by 17%. The study authors conclude that:  "dietary phylloquinone intake is associated with reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. ”