Gnosis by Lessafre reveals low vitamin K levels linked to cognitive dysfunction

27 Apr 2022 --- A large-scale, cross-sectional study has linked vitamin K deficiency to lower cognitive well-being and brain health for elderly people. The Gnosis by Lesaffre research is described as a positive development providing further evidence that Vitamin K2 is an essential nutrient. 

“Based on our research and the critical work that continues, we can hypothesize that K2 supplementation could prove beneficial in the brain development of children and support healthy brain function in adults,” explains Dr. Hogne Vik, chief medical officer with Gnosis by Lesaffre.

In the study, Japan-based researchers looked at the nutrition of 800 “community-dwelling” older adults with an average age of 75,9 after completing a senior health examination which included a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and blood test.

Research on cognitive function and the role of vitamin K is growing.Paving the way
The researchers flag the study is one of the first of its kind: “As far as we know, this is the first report on the significant association of single ucOC measurement and cognitive impairment. Our analysis also suggests that vitamin K insufficiency could be associated with selected categories of cognitive function.”

Based on binary logistic regression analysis, the risk of cognitive impairment was significantly lower with higher vitamin K levels, interpreted via biomarkers.

“We have worked with world-renowned researchers – as NattoPharma and that work continues at Gnosis by Lesaffre – to confirm the safe and effective health benefits of MenaQ7 Vitamin K2 as MK-7,” Vik underscores.

“It is important to mention that in-vivo research supports that supplementation with K2 as MK-7 increases MK-4 content in the brain tissue.”

Tackling deficiencies
Researchers specifically looked at participants’ concentrations of undercarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC) – a biomarker for vitamin K deficiency – in blood serum. The study was able to demonstrate an association between ucOC and cognitive function.

“Since the single measurement of ucOC in serum is a simple and widely available method for vitamin K evaluation, it could be useful as a biomarker of neurodegenerative diseases affecting the cognitive functions,” the researchers highlight.

According to findings, when ucOC was analyzed along with MMSE scores, the highest tertile of ucOC was linked to impaired orientation, language and calculation.

A recent study into phytoceuticals and nutraceuticals found natural ingredients and nutritional supplements showed potential within mental healthcare, with certain vitamin deficiencies having associations with neurological and cognitive disorders like ADHD.

Exploring broader links
Gnosis by Lessafre underscores the results are supported by another recently published paper from Spain that assessed two years of changes in dietary K intake with cognitive function measured through neuropsychological performance tests. 

The researchers concluded that: “An increase of the intake of dietary vitamin K was associated with better cognitive function scores, independently of recognized risk factors for cognitive decline, in an older adult Mediterranean population with high cardiovascular risk.”

Vitamin K and D3 were flagged as synergistic health and wellness effects, described as the perfect pair.

Researchers also flagged vitamin K as a “missing link” for COVID-19 pathogenesis.

Edited by Olivia Nelson