A new, large study published in ERJ Open Research — suggests that people who have low levels of this vitamin K have less healthy lungs. They are more likely to report having asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and wheezing.
The key researcher, researcher Dr. Torkil Jespersen of Copenhagen University Hospital and the University of Copenhagen in Denmark suggest that his study shows that vitamin K could play a part in keeping our lungs healthy.
The study recruited more than 4,000 Copenhagen residents, ages 24 to 77 and each participant underwent lung function testing using the goal standard test called the spirometry. This test 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 (forced vital capacity or FVC).
Blood samples were obtained on all the participants including a marker of vitamin K in the body.
People with markers of low vitamin K levels had lower FEV1 and lower FVC on average. Those with lower levels of vitamin K were also more likely to say they had COPD, asthma or wheezing.
This study suggests that people with low levels of vitamin K in their blood may have poorer lung function.
Four of the top foods high in vitamin K include: Kale, Mustard greens, Swiss chard and Collard greens.
So if these foods aren’t typically on your grocery list, you might consider a Vitamin K supplement. After all, healthy breathing comes in handy if you’re wanting to enjoy “the best performance of your life!”
God bless,
DrB
References:
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5683584/ frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2020.00047/full healthlibrary.brighamandwomens.org/Library/News/Headlines/6,1662957978 openres.ersjournals.com/content/early/2023/06/29/23120541.00208-2023
