Japanese research team report
[의학신문·일간보사=정우용 기자] A study result showed that vitamin K contained in vegetables is effective in preventing ‘ferrotosis’, a type of cell death that has been pointed out to be related to dementia.
A research team from Tohoku University and others in Japan paid attention as a research result that has the potential to help develop treatments for various diseases in the future, and published a research thesis in the British scientific journal ‘Nature’ on the 4th.
Ferrotosis is a type of cell death discovered in 2012 and is known to be caused by oxidation of lipids, a component of cell membranes. Although its role in the living body is not clear, it is known to be related to various diseases such as dementia, liver disorders, and myocardial disorders.
The research team found that vitamin K contained in vegetables and meat inhibits this cell death using special cells that induce ferrotosis. When vitamin K was administered to rats with hepatic impairment due to ferrotosis, the occurrence of organ disorders was suppressed.
Upon closer examination, vitamin K was transformed into an antioxidant by a special enzyme and promoted oxidized lipids, thereby suppressing ferrotosis. It was confirmed that this enzyme also works when vitamin K suppresses the symptoms of poisoning caused by overdose of drugs that make blood clotting difficult.
The research team said, “This discovery is expected to help new treatments such as dementia. We plan to continue research on the relationship between the evolution of life and ferrotosis.”
At present, the relationship between ferrotosis and various diseases has not been elucidated in detail. In addition, the amount of vitamin K administered in the rat experiment was much higher than what can be ingested in a normal diet. Therefore, the research team explained, “Even if you eat foods high in vitamin K, it is not possible to prevent related diseases.”