End Fatigue

Vitamin K Decreases Insulin Resistance in Men

Vitamin K has been suggested to be a helpful nutrient for decreasing the risk of heart disease (see Calcium Increases Risk of Heart Attacks).

In this study, 500 µg/day of phylloquinone (vitamin K1) was given daily as part of an osteoporosis study. This was an ancillary study of a 36-month, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial evaluating the effect on bone loss of supplementation with 500 µg/day of phylloquinone (vitamin K1).

	The study sample consisted of 355 nondiabetic men and women, aged 60 to 80 years (60% were women).
	The main endpoint of this ancillary study was insulin resistance at 36 months, measured by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).
	Secondary outcome measures were fasting plasma insulin and glucose concentrations.
	In both men and women, there was evidence of decreased bone breakdown.
	At the 36-month visit (but not at 6 months), HOMA-IR and plasma insulin was significantly lower for men in the supplement group vs. those in the control group (P =.01), after adjustment for baseline HOMA-IR, BMI, and weight change. There was not a significant decrease in women though, and it was suspected that this occurred because the vitamin K (being fat soluble) was being stored in fatty tissue more in women.

The study authors conclude: "Vitamin K supplementation for 36 months at doses attainable in the diet may reduce progression of insulin resistance in older men — but not in older women."

This suggests that vitamin K (which will be added to the Energy Revitalization System in our next reformulation) may decrease the risk of developing diabetes and heart disease, as well as osteoporosis.

References

Diabetes Care. November 2008;31:2092-2096.

For more information, see the article at Medscape online (free registration required).