Liver Health

A Japanese study was conducted with hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer) in rats. When the rats with cancer were given perindopril in conjunction with Vitamin K2, there was a significant reduction in preneoplastic lesions compared to rats treated with just one or the other.3 This led the researchers to conclude that this could be a new chemo preventative method against Liver Cancer.31

These same scientists also ran a human clinical study. The study was with a 66-year old woman with a dysplatic nodule that had elevation of tumor markers.32 They treated her with oral administration of ACE-I and Vitamin K2, and after only one year, the nodule was completely gone.32

Cancer

A Heidelberg cohort study was performed in which the scientists were trying to elucidate a relationship between the consumption of Vitamin K and the incidence of cancer.33 The study involved 24,340 participants between the age of 35 and 64 years of age for 4 years. The scientists concluded that the consumption of Vitamin K2 (menaquinones) is associated with a reduced risk of incident and fatal cancer.33 Further studies would be needed to help validate their claims. Nonetheless, it was an interesting study that warrants further attention.

Neurological Health

Nerve fibersIn 2012, a groundbreaking piece was published in the prestigious scientific journal called Science.34 The article revealed Vitamin K2 as a novel electron transporter, which is essential in proper mitochondrial and neurological functioning.3 The researchers go on to suggest that Vitamin K2 could be a possible treatment for mitochondrial diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).34