JAMA Cardiology publishes a 2-year study confirming that Vitamin K2 as MK-7 supplementation produced nearly one-third less progression of coronary artery calcification, a recognized predictor of cardiovascular disease, compared with placebo.
JAMA Cardiology, an international peer-reviewed journal considered the definitive resource for clinical investigators, clinicians, and trainees in cardiovascular medicine worldwide, has published a new 2-year, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) using imaging-based endpoints. The trial [1], “Two Years of Menaquinone-7 Supplementation and Coronary Artery Calcification: A Randomized Clinical Trial”, shows the protective effect of Vitamin K2 as menaquinone-7 (MK-7) supplementation on holding the progression of coronary artery calcification and reducing new calcium buildup in previously non-calcified coronary plaques (of symptomatic patients with coronary artery calcification).
The study, which used MenaQ7® K2 as MK-7, is significant because it adds to the substantial body of evidence demonstrating the cardiovascular benefits of MK-7, providing further understanding of the mechanism by which it inhibits calcification in cardiovascular muscle.
Understanding CAC and Its Impact
Coronary artery calcification (CAC) indicates hardened plaque buildup in the heart’s arteries, making them stiffer and less able to expand and contract, and certain calcification patterns may also be associated with plaque vulnerability and the risk of rupture. CAC acts as a major indicator of atherosclerosis and a significant risk factor for cardiovascular issues. Severe cases, often measured by high CAC scores, indicate advanced coronary artery disease.
According to the authors of the trial, ”arterial calcification results from an imbalance in calcification regulatory mechanisms. An important inhibitor of calcification is vitamin K-dependent matrix Gla protein (MGP).
“Both preclinical and clinical studies have shown that inhibition of the vitamin K-cycle by vitamin K antagonists (VKA) results in elevated uncarboxylated MGP (ucMGP) and in extensive arterial calcification,” says Leon Schurgers, professor of biochemistry of vascular calcification, and chair of the Department of Biochemistry at the Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University (The Netherlands), and one of the lead researchers on the study. He showed, in clinical studies in which MenaQ7® was the source material, that K2 as MK-7 supplementation improves vitamin K–dependent MGP activation [2] and supports arterial elasticity. [3,4] Additionally, clinical study findings also showed that K2 as MK-7 may also contribute to support improvements in blood pressure [5] in selected populations and to a slower progression rate of coronary artery calcification.
“This led us to hypothesize that supplementation with MK-7 can slow down the progression of CAC,” says Prof. Schurgers.
Indeed, the Council for Responsible Nutrition estimated that vitamin K2 use could reduce coronary artery disease events by 15.7% and save the US healthcare system $9.48B (2022–2030). [6]
Study Design & Results
The trial, which analyzed the effects of MK-7 supplementation on CAC progression, was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study that included 180 patients (men and women) with CAD. Patients with a baseline Agatston CAC-score between 50 and 400 were randomized to an intervention group (360 micrograms of MK-7) or a placebo group. The treatment duration was 24 months.
Of the 180 participants, 78% of participants were on statin therapy, and 67-74% were smokers. Both categories are critical in interpreting CAC outcomes as statins are known to stabilize plaques, promote calcification, and raise CAC scores. [7] At the same time, active and past smokers are at risk of increased CAC progression, as compared to those who have never smoked. [8]
The study showed that a 2-year period of supplementation with MK-7 has the potential to attenuate established CAC and reduce new CAC, as measured by approximately a 29% lower progression in the Agatston score, in people with mild coronary disease. The MK-7 group showed nearly one-third less progression compared with placebo. Additionally, a similar trend was observed for calcium mass, a better marker of the calcification process than calcium volume. The MK-7 group showed approximately 42% less progression in calcium mass versus placebo. The authors concluded: ”As both the Agatston and the calcium mass score pointed in the same direction, we are confident that MK-7 can slow down coronary calcification.”
Moreover, MK-7 improved extrahepatic vitamin K status, lowering dp-ucMGP while increasing blood MK-7 levels, supporting a positive effect on this calcification biomarker.
New Opportunities for Approaching Heart Health
The study highlights MenaQ7®’s potential to change proactive heart health care. CAC scoring is very important as it reflects the “vascular age” [9] of the coronary arteries by measuring calcified plaque, making it a useful tool for assessing cardiovascular risk, notes Hogne Vik, MD, PhD, MBA, medical and scientific advisor at Gnosis by Lesaffre and member of the company’s Vitamin K2 Scientific Advisory Committee.
“Even still, the findings are remarkable as we currently do not have any effective treatments to address the issue of vascular calcification,” says Dr. Vik, adding that a growing body of research highlights the importance of vitamin K in activating Matrix Gla Protein (MGP), a strong inhibitor of vascular and soft-tissue calcification. “This scientific rationale has helped drive continued expert interest in MK-7, including clinical studies in patients with advanced CAC.”
Gnosis cannot help but share excitement over these results.
“Almost two decades of clinical research on MenaQ7 has demonstrated its significant cardiovascular benefits, including maintaining arterial elasticity, supporting normative blood pressure, and now supporting healthy calcium balance in coronary arteries,” says Kimmo Makinen, Gnosis Head of Scientific Affairs. “Our vitamin K2 ingredient is supported by multiple clinical trials that have demonstrated its safety and biological effect across various health areas, with this landmark trial being the latest. We are proud to provide the most substantiated vitamin K2 product on the market.”
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References:
6 https://www.crnusa.org/sites/default/files/HCCS/00-CRN-Supplements-to-Savings-2022-FullReport.pdf
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