2023-08-20 10:15:00
Some lung disorders may be partly due to vitamin K deficiency, published study finds ERJ Open Research.
In fact, according to the researchers, people with lower levels of vitamin K in the blood are more likely to have poor lung function and to say that they suffer from asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and wheezing.
Vitamin K: we discover its role in lung health
Until now, researchers haven’t identified all the attributes of vitamin K, which is found in leafy green vegetables, vegetable oils and grains, on lung health. We knew, however, that this vitamin contributes to the manufacture of various proteins necessary for blood clotting and bone formation. It also helps the body to heal wounds.
To better understand its role in lung health, researchers from Copenhagen University Hospital and the University of Copenhagen followed a group of 4,092 people aged 24 to 77 living in Denmark’s capital.
Vitamin K deficiency decreases the ability of the lungs to function properly
Participants underwent lung function tests, called spirometrywhich makes it possible to study several ventilatory flows: the FEV1 which is the maximum exhaled volume per second, i.e. the maximum volume that the patient can exhale in one second and the mobilized volumes (the forced vital capacity FVC) which represents the total volume mobilized following inspiration and maximal expiration.
They also took a blood test with a marker for low levels of vitamin K in the body, called dp-ucMGP, and answered questionnaires regarding their health and lifestyle.
The results thus demonstrated that people with markers of low vitamin K levels had, on average, lower FEV1 and FVC. This suggests that the lungs would be affected by the levels of this vitamin.
This finding may be a good starting point for determining whether some people, such as those with lung disease, might benefit from vitamin K supplementation, the paper’s authors concluded.
Lung Disorders Affect Adults and Children
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic respiratory disease caused by permanent and progressive inflammation and obstruction of the bronchi, recalls theHealth Insurance. In France, 5 to 10% of people over 45 have COPD.
Asthma, which affects 262 million people worldwide according to theWorld Health Organization (WHO) is a chronic disease that affects children and adults: “lhe airways in the lungs narrow due to inflammation and tightening of the muscles that surround the fine airways. This causes the symptoms of asthma: coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing”.
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