Health effects of Vitamin K: towards evidence-based nutrition recommendations and prevention

The Danish researcher Henrik Dam was awarded the Nobel Prize for his discovery of vitamin K as an essential vitamin for the activation of blood clotting factors other proteins important to human physiology. Today, there is growing evidence that vitamin K may be important for the prevention of many age-related chronic diseases, however, critical gaps in our knowledge exist. The project aims to characterise the vitamin K content and bioavailability of foods commonly consumed in Denmark to more accurately assess dietary intakes in general population studies. This information will then be used to investigate the potential role of vitamin K for the prevention of chronic diseases; providing the evidence needed for the re-evaluation of recommended intakes of dietary vitamin K. The project brings together an interdisciplinary and international team of researchers, bridging basic science, genetics, and biomarkers with large epidemiological studies linked to the unique Danish registries.

Vitamin K; epidemiology, prevention

The Danish researcher Henrik Dam received the Nobel Prize for the discovery of vitamin K and its role for blood clotting. This has meant that vitamin K is now given to all newborns as prevention against bleeding. Scientific studies show that vitamin K can have a number of other important benefits functions in the body, e.g. prevention of atherosclerosis, osteoporosis and diabetes, and thus can potentially prevent age-related chronic diseases. Today it is not possible to calculate the Danes' intake of vitamin K, as there is no valid data for the content of vitamin K in those foods we are eating. The project aims to generate knowledge about the level and bioavailability of vitamin K in our foods so that intake of vitamin K can be calculated as correctly as possible. To investigate
whether a high intake of vitamin K can prevent chronic diseases, the new data for calculation of intake of vitamin K in the diet be combined with already established large Danish population surveys that are linked to the unique Danish disease registers. The population surveys include extensive data on e.g. diet registration, genetics and biomarkers of vitamin K status. The aim is to be able to contribute to an update of the dietary recommendations for intake of vitamin K; and thus ensure both optimal blood clotting and prevention of age-related problems chronic diseases. The project brings together an interdisciplinary team of Danish and foreign people researchers who form a bridge between basic research disciplines and epidemiology.