The Role of Vitamin K in Humans: Implication in Aging and Age-Associated Diseases

Abstract

As human life expectancy is rising, the incidence of age-associated diseases will also increase. Scientific evidence has revealed that healthy diets, including good fats, vitamins, minerals, or polyphenolics, could have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, with antiaging effects. Recent studies demonstrated that vitamin K is a vital cofactor in activating several proteins, which act against age-related syndromes. Thus, vitamin K can carboxylate osteocalcin (a protein capable of transporting and fixing calcium in bone), activate matrix Gla protein (an inhibitor of vascular calcification and cardiovascular events) and carboxylate Gas6 protein (involved in brain physiology and a cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disease inhibitor). By improving insulin sensitivity, vitamin K lowers diabetes risk. It also exerts antiproliferative, proapoptotic, autophagic effects and has been associated with a reduced risk of cancer. Recent research shows that protein S, another vitamin K-dependent protein, can prevent the cytokine storm observed in COVID-19 cases. The reduced activation of protein S due to the pneumonia-induced vitamin K depletion was correlated with higher thrombogenicity and possibly fatal outcomes in COVID-19 patients. Our review aimed to present the latest scientific evidence about vitamin K and its role in preventing age-associated diseases and/or improving the effectiveness of medical treatments in mature adults ˃50 years old.

Interactions of Truncated Menaquinones in Lipid Monolayers and Bilayers

“…MKs are cofactors used in the electron transport system (ETS) of bacteria to generate cellular energy, such as in the pathogenic Mycobacterium tuberculosis . [ 1 , 2 , 3 ] MKs consist of a naphthoquinone headgroup and an isoprenoid side chain of varying length ( Figure 1 ) [ 4 , 5 ]. We have previously found that MK’s structure allows it to fold into different molecular shapes depending on environment and side chain length [ 6 , 7 ].…”

Matrix-GLA-Protein and Vascular Calcification: Can Diet Influence the Consequences of Matrix GLA Protein Inactivation? A Review

“…The protective effect of vitamin K 1 supplementation is particularly evident in dialysis patients. In such patients, both a reduction of dp-ucMGP plasma levels and reduced arterial stiffness could be achieved [114][115][116][117][118] .…”

Recognized and Potentially New Biomarkers—Their Role in Diagnosis and Prognosis of Cardiovascular Disease

“…Third, OC shows a circadian rhythm with a night peak, and therefore, the time of blood sampling may also contribute to the variability of the obtained results [ 136 ]. Fourth, we are dealing with the influence of vitamin K [ 137 ] and vitamin D and the importance of supplementing these vitamins and bone metabolism status generally on the level of OC, which should also be taken into account. All these factors influence the interpretation of the results and should be reconsidered before OC becomes a recognized cardiovascular biomarker.…”