Link found between low vitamin levels and lung issues

By Stephen Beech via SWNS

People with low levels of a vitamin found in green vegetables are more likely to have bad lungs, according to a new study.

Researchers discovered that those with below average levels of vitamin K in their blood are more likely to suffer from asthma, wheezing and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Vitamin K is found in leafy green vegetables, vegetable oils and cereal grains.

It plays a key role in blood clotting, and so helps the body to heal wounds. But little is known about its role in lung health.

Scientists say the new findings, published in ERJ Open Research, don't alter the current advice on vitamin K intake, but they do support further research to see if some people could benefit from taking vitamin K supplements.

The study, by Danish researchers at Copenhagen University Hospital and the University of Copenhagen, involved more than 4,000 people aged between 24 and 77.

Participants took part in lung function testing, called spirometry, gave blood samples and answered questionnaires on their health and lifestyle.

The blood tests included a marker of low levels of vitamin K in the body called dp-ucMGP.

Spirometry measures the amount of 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, know as forced vital capacity or FVC.

The research team found that people with markers of low levels of vitamin K had lower FEV1 and lower FVC on average.

Participants with lower levels of vitamin K were also more likely to say they had COPD, asthma or wheezing.

Dr. Torkil Jespersen said: “We already know that vitamin K has an important role in the blood and research is beginning to show that it’s also important in heart and bone health, but there’s been very little research looking at vitamin K and the lungs.

"To our knowledge, this is the first study on vitamin K and lung function in a large general population.

"Our results suggest that vitamin K could play a part in keeping our lungs healthy."

He added: “On their own, our findings do not alter current recommendations for vitamin K intake, but they do suggest that we need more research on whether some people, such as those with lung disease, could benefit from vitamin K supplementation.”

The researchers are already working on a large clinical trial comparing vitamin K supplementation with a placebo to look at any effects on heart and bone health. They will now include an analysis of lung function in the trial.

Dr. Apostolos Bossios, Secretary of the European Respiratory Society’s assembly on Airway diseases, asthma, COPD, and chronic cough, said: “This study suggests that people with low levels of vitamin K in their blood may have poorer lung function.

"Further research will help us understand more about this link and see whether increasing vitamin K can improve lung function or not."

Dr. Bossios, of Karolinska Institutet in Sweden who wasn't involved in the study, added: “In the meantime, we can all try to eat a healthy, balanced diet to support our overall health, and we can protect our lungs by not smoking, taking part in exercise and doing all we can to cut air pollution.”