What vitamins are right for your lungs? It’s Vitamin K, so eat your leafy greens, study says

Vitamin K was discovered as a fat-soluble vitamin by the Danish biochemist Henrik Dam who received the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1943. K comes from the word “Coagulation Vitamin” because it helps blood clot and stop bleeding. This vitamin also binds calcium to bones and other tissues and has antioxidant properties as well. Also remember that nearly half of your platelets, which play an important role in blood clotting, come from the lungs. The lungs’ unique function of synthesizing platelets, along with the new observation that Vitamin K deficiency is associated with an increased likelihood of respiratory symptoms, highlight its important role in lung health.

How do low Vitamin K levels cause respiratory problems? Has the research been able to uncover the mechanism?

The mechanism is still unknown although research is ongoing. Dutch studies have shown how a lack of vitamin K leads to an increased risk of respiratory symptoms such as wheezing (commonly seen in asthma) and COPD. Previous studies have shown that a lack of vitamin K increases the likelihood of pulmonary fibrosis, a condition most seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although vitamin K deficiency is not common, low levels are associated with cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, osteoporosis and muscle inflammation. A recent Japanese study showed that Vitamin K intake was associated with a reduced risk of lung cancer (38 percent in men and 20 percent in women). Well, this vitamin is certainly important in therapy.

How can people increase their Vitamin K levels?

Vitamin K consists of 2 subtypes: Vitamin K1 whose sources are spinach, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, vegetable oils, and cereal grains. Sources of vitamin K2 are cheese, natto (fermented soybeans commonly used in Japanese breakfast), eggs, poultry and also synthesized by intestinal bacteria. Vitamin K1 is mainly involved in blood clotting while Vitamin K2 is important for the proper functioning of various organs of the body including the heart, kidneys, muscles, bones and lungs.

Should one take Vitamin K supplements?

Our traditional balanced diet offers sufficient Vitamin K for their regular functioning. The daily requirement for Vitamin K is 1 microgram per kilogram of body weight. Additional supplementation is often not necessary unless your body is consuming too much Vitamin K. Vitamin K levels in the blood are measured indirectly as functional vitamin K levels because they mix with blood cholesterol levels. Although there are some side effects associated with taking Vitamin K, they are rare, and it is better to follow your doctor’s advice before taking any supplements.