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Six weeks phylloquinone supplementation produces undesirable effects on blood lipids with no changes in inflammatory and fibrinolytic markers in postmenopausal women

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Abstract

Background

Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of death in the Western world, but some recent studies indicate that vitamin K may play a role in atherosclerosis protection.

Aim of study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of phylloquinone supplementation on blood lipids, inflammatory markers and fibrinolytic activity in postmenopausal women.

Methods

Thirty-one postmenopausal women completed this placebo-controlled, randomized crossover study and received 500 µg phylloquinone or placebo in addition to their habitual diet during two periods of 6 weeks’ duration. Blood concentration of lipids, inflammatory markers and fibrinolytic parameters were measured after each period.

Results

Inflammatory markers, fibrinolytic parameters, total cholesterol and LDL-C were unaffected by the supplementation, whereas a 15% increase was seen in triacylglycerols (P = 0.015) and a 5% decrease in HDL-C (P = 0.06).

Conclusions

Six weeks supplementation with a dose of phylloquinone similar to that obtainable from the diet induced a deterioration of the lipid profile with no improvement in any of the other risk markers analysed. Thus, these results do not support a cardioprotective effect of vitamin K as has been suggested by others.

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Acknowledgments

Financed by the European Commission Quality of Life Fifth Framework Program QLK1-1999-00752 “Optimal Nutrition towards Osteoporosis Prevention: Impact of Diet and Gene-Nutrient Interactions on Calcium and Bone Metabolism”. It does not necessarily reflect its views and in no way anticipate the Commission’s future policy in this area. The technical assistance of Hanne L Petersen and Leif S Jakobsen is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Human Nutrition, Centre for Advanced Food Studies (LMC), University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 30, 1958, Frederiksberg C, Denmark

    Mette Kristensen, Jane Kudsk & Susanne Bügel

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  1. Mette Kristensen
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  2. Jane Kudsk
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  3. Susanne Bügel
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Correspondence to Mette Kristensen.

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Kristensen, M., Kudsk, J. & Bügel, S. Six weeks phylloquinone supplementation produces undesirable effects on blood lipids with no changes in inflammatory and fibrinolytic markers in postmenopausal women. Eur J Nutr 47, 375–379 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-008-0737-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-008-0737-4

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