Vitamin K has come a long way since its role in blood clotting was first recognised. In recent decades, a number of other properties have been discovered, including its essential role in the skeletal and cardiovascular systems.

A hitherto unknown effect of vitamin K

A new effect has also recently been identified: vitamin K, like vitamin E, functions as a fat-soluble antioxidant and protects cells from ferroptosis, a form of cell death that may be associated with the development of several chronic diseases. (1)

During ferroptosis, iron in cells destroys cell membranes by oxidative stress, causing cell death. Preventing ferroptosis may be a promising therapy for several serious diseases, and many different substances have been tested for their ability to interfere with this process.

Surprisingly, apart from vitamin E, only vitamin K was able to protect cells effectively, thus preventing cell death. Vitamin K could therefore be a potential therapy for a number of chronic diseases.

Vitamin K has a similar protective effect to vitamin E

This research has therefore demonstrated that not only vitamin E but also vitamin K functions as a fat-soluble antioxidant.

It was also shown in mice that K2 MK-4 (which is produced from K1) protected the liver from abnormal changes caused by lipid peroxidation even in vitamin E-deficient conditions and significantly prolonged their lives.

The researchers suggest that, since ferroptosis is an ancient form of cell death, vitamin K may be one of the oldest natural antioxidants. The beneficial effects of vitamin K have already been tested in a number of research studies, but it is hoped that this discovery will lead to research being extended to diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's.

What diseases can vitamin K improve?

The benefits of vitamin K are already well known for the skeletal and cardiovascular systems, but it can also be beneficial for other diseases. There are few studies on this, but some surprising results have been reported. 

In a 2008 randomised trial involving 440 participants, taking a high dose (5mg per day) of vitamin K1 reduced the risk of cancer by a quarter compared to the placebo group. (2) Other studies have also found several anti-cancer effects. (3,4)

It would also be important to study vitamin K in Alzheimer's disease, as ferroptosis has a major role in the development of the disease. Several of the pathological changes that are characteristic of Alzheimer's disease are shared with those caused by ferroptosis, such as iron accumulation, increased lipid peroxidation and reduced glutathione levels. (5)

Vitamin K could become a very inexpensive and extremely safe therapy, so it would be particularly useful to investigate it extensively. In the meantime, it is worth aiming to consume at least between 500mcg - 1mg per day, but just up to 5mg per day may already be beneficial.