Vitamin K is important for several body functions, including blood clotting, bone strength and heart health. A latest study has revealed that low levels of the vitamin can result in lung health issues.

A team of researchers from Copenhagen University Hospital and the University of Copenhagen found that folks with inadequate levels of vitamin K suffer from asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and wheezing.

The study evaluated 4,092 participants, aged 24 to 77 years, who took lung function tests, blood samples and answered questionnaires on their health and lifestyle. Individuals who had low levels of vitamin K had lower forced expiratory volume (the quantity of air exhaled in a second) and lower forced vital capability (the quantity of air inhaled in a single forced breath).

“We already know that vitamin K has a crucial role within the blood and research is starting to point out that it is also vital in heart and bone health, but there’s been little or no research taking a look at vitamin K and the lungs. To our knowledge, that is the primary study on vitamin K and lung function in a big general population. Our results suggest that vitamin K could play an element in keeping our lungs healthy,” study lead Dr. Torkil Jespersen said in a media release.

“On their very own, our findings don’t alter current recommendations for vitamin K intake, but they do suggest that we’d like more research on whether some people, equivalent to those with lung disease, may gain advantage from vitamin K supplementation,” Jespersen added.

Meanwhile, researchers are conducting a separate large-scale clinical trial to guage the effect of vitamin K supplementation on heart and bone health. Based on the present study, in addition they plan to guage its impact on lung function.

“This study suggests that folks with low levels of vitamin K of their blood can have poorer lung function. Further research will help us understand more about this link and see whether increasing vitamin K can improve lung function or not. Within the meantime, we will all attempt to eat a healthy, balanced weight-reduction plan to support our overall health, and we will protect our lungs by not smoking, collaborating in exercise and doing all we will to chop air pollution,” said Dr. Apostolos Bossios from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden.

Bossios is the secretary of the European Respiratory Society’s assembly on Airway diseases, asthma, COPD and chronic cough. He was not involved within the study.

Signs of vitamin K deficiency:

• Small clots under the nails
• Bleeding within the mucous membrane
• Dark stool
• Easy bruising
• Sleepiness
• Pale skin
• Bleeding from gums
• Heavy and painful menstruation
• Frequent fractures and joint pain

Food sources wealthy in vitamin K:

• Leafy vegetables – spinach, cabbage, kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and lettuce are some examples.
• Soybean and canola oil
• Meat, cheese and eggs
• Avocados, olives and nuts

Published by Medicaldaily.com