A post-hoc analysis of a one year study involving Gnosis by Lesaffre's MenaQ7 Vitamin K2 as MK-7 has found that the nutraceutical can support the cardiovascular health of post-menopausal women.1
The analysis, titled "Effects of one-year menaquinone-7 supplementation on vascular stiffness and blood pressure in post-menopausal women” delivers new insights following the initial study in 2020 — specifically focusing on the functional ingredient's impact on female volunteers.
The original study looked at how vitamin K supplementation could impact those with low extrahepatic vitamin K status — a key biomarker of cardiovascular risk due to its promotion of vascular calcification and the inactivation of matrix GLA protein (MGP).2
This study highlights the potential of vitamin K2 as a women's health ingredient; specifically in the post-menopausal stage.
Considering cardiovascular health for post-menopause
During pre-, peri- and postmenopause, women tend to experience a decline in oestrogen levels, which is commonly associated with a rise in cardiovascular risk that Fembke de Vries, PhD student at the Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht and leader of the analysis, states is "typically underrepresented in clinical settings."
Since low vitamin K status is commonly recognised as a cardiovascular risk factor, researchers wanted to determine if vitamin K2 as MK-7 supplementation can have knock-on cardiovascular health benefits.
To assess this, the post-hoc analysis included 165 women divided into pre/peri and post menopausal groups who all had dp-ucMGP levels higher than 400pmol/L at baseline — which is considered a baseline mark for low vitamin K2 status.
Vitamin K2 for vascular flexibility
When assessing the impact of vitamin K2 supplementation over a one year period, researchers found that MK-7 supplementation can improve vascular flexibility by attenuating vascular stiffness.
This trend was seen particularly in those with a high vascular stiffness index, with vitamin K2 triggering significant improvements in multiple vascular markers, along with lower blood pressure in the brachial and cartoid arteries.
Notably, the placebo group with a high stiffness index experienced a significant increase in brachialis and cartoid artery blood pressure, suggesting that daily MK-7 supplementation plays a key role in cardiovascular health within this population.
"The main findings substantiate claims that the menopause negatively impacts vascular health, but that supplementation with vitamin K2 as MK-7 can mitigate these effects," commented Katarzyna Maresz, Member & Coordinator of the Gnosis Vitamin K2 Scientific Advisory Committee and one of the authors of this analysis.
"This analysis strongly suggests that supplementation with MenaQ7 Vitamin K2 as MK-7 has potential as a targeted intervention to improve cardiovascular health in post-menopausal women."
"These new findings could have profound implications for the formulation of future cardiovascular health products — particularly those serving women working through the menopause," added Gnosis' Head of Marketing, Marie Tutein Brenoe.
"These results shine a light on the need for personalised interventions, as not all women benefit the same. Vitamin K2 supplementation could be particularly useful for those with elevated arterial stiffness, as they experienced the greatest improvements in vascular flexibility and blood pressure," she concluded.
References