Vitamin K2 May Slow Coronary Plaque Calcification in CAD: JAMA
A new study published in the Journal of American Medical Association showed that in individuals with symptomatic coronary artery disease (CAD), menaquinone-7 (MK-7), a kind of vitamin K2, supplementation may decrease the development of coronary artery calcification (CAC).
Supplementing with vitamin K can slow the advancement of vascular calcification in individuals with end-stage renal disease or diabetes. It is still uncertain if people with symptomatic atherosclerotic CAD benefit from vitamin K as well. In order to determine if supplementing with the vitamin K homologue menaquinone-7 (MK-7) for two years slows the course of CAC in comparison to a placebo, this study was carried out.
Patients with symptoms and a CAC score between 50 and 400 Agatston units (AU) were included in this research, which included a two-year follow-up period (VitaK-CAC study). The study was carried out at one community-dwelling hospital and one academic hospital.
The progression of the CAC score and calcium mass at one and two years of follow-up, as determined by computed tomography (CT) scanning, was the main result of the study. CT angiography was also carried out. One secondary outcome measure was the frequency of new calcifications. A generalized estimating equations model that was modified for variables was used to evaluate the data.
A total of 180 patients (90 patients each group) might be randomly assigned to receive either MK-7 (median [IQR] age, 59 [54-65] years; 36 [42%] female) or a placebo (median [IQR] age, 61 [54-65] years; 34 [42%] female).
The two groups' baseline characteristics were similar. The active treatment group saw a substantial increase in MK-7 plasma levels (median [IQR], 0.50 [0.32-0.77] µg/L to 6.56 [2.04-10.35] µg/L; P <.001).
After the first year, CAC scores in the placebo group rose from a median (IQR) of 145 (99-217) AU to 173 (119-297) AU and then to 214 (148-344) AU.
These values were 135 (89-226), 150 (110-254), and 184 (122-298) AU in the active therapy group. Even after controlling for confounders, the difference between the groups remained significant (P =.02). For calcium mass, a similar outcome was seen.
The number of noncalcified plaques that partially calcified during the trial was connected with an increase in CAC score (R2 = 0.17; P =.04). There were no noticeable negative effects.
Overall, MK-7 supplementation for two years may reduce calcification in noncalcified plaques in individuals with symptomatic CAD. The clinical importance of this observation in terms of plaque stability has yet to be confirmed.
Source:
Vossen, L. M., de Leeuw, P. W., Schurgers, L. J., Heuts, S., Adriaans, B. P., de Haan, C., van Varik, B. J., & Kroon, A. A. (2026). Two years of menaquinone-7 supplementation and coronary artery calcification: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Cardiology. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamacardio.2026.1279
