A new, large study published in ERJ Open Research suggests that people with low vitamin K levels have less healthy lungs. They are more likely to report having asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and wheezing.
The critical researcher, Dr. Torkil Jespersen of Copenhagen University Hospital and the University of Copenhagen in Denmark suggests that his study shows that vitamin K could play a part in keeping our lungs healthy.
The study recruited more than 4,000 Copenhagen residents, ages 24 to 77, and each participant underwent lung function testing using the goal standard test called spirometry. This test measures the air a person can breathe out in one second (forced expiratory volume or FEV1) and the total volume of air they can breathe in one forced breath (forced vital capacity or FVC).
Blood samples were obtained from all participants, including a marker of vitamin K in the body.
People with markers of low vitamin K levels had lower FEV1 and lower FVC on average. Those with inadequate vitamin K levels were also more likely to say they had COPD, asthma, or wheezing.
This study suggests that people with low vitamin K levels in their blood may have poorer lung function.
Four top foods high in vitamin K include Kale, Mustard greens, Swiss chard, and Collard greens.
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Reference
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5683584/
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2020.00047/full
https://healthlibrary.brighamandwomens.org/Library/News/Headlines/6,1662957978
https://openres.ersjournals.com/content/early/2023/06/29/23120541.00208-2023