New Study Indicate that a Daily Intake of Vitamin K2 Significantly Reduce the Risk of Developing or Die of Cancer

In general, the researchers found, the one quarter with the highest intakes of vitamin K2 were 28% less likely to have died of any one of the 22 different cancers than the one-quarter of men and women with the lowest intakes of the vitamin.

8 Apr 2010 --- Recent studies have suggested an anticarcinogenic effect of vitamin K2 on prostate cancer of approx 50%, while no effect was found for K1. In a new study from the researchers from the German Cancer Research Centre confirms and even extents this effect: the potential benefits of vitamin K2 accounts for overall-cancer risk in both men and women, whereas vitamin K1 shows no effect.

The findings, based on data from the 24,340 men and women taking part in the prospective EPIC Heidelberg cohort, are published in this month's issue of  the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition*. All 24,340 participants (aged 35-64 y) were free of cancer at enrollment and followed up for cancer incidence and mortality. Dietary vitamin K intake was estimated from food-frequency questionnaires. During a 10 year follow-up, 1755 incident cancer cases occurred, of which 458 were fatal. Cancer risk reduction with increasing intake of vitamin K2, mainly the long chain menaquinones such as NattoPharma's MenaQ7 was recorded.

In general, the researchers found, the one quarter with the highest intakes of vitamin K2 were 28% less likely to have died of any one of the 22 different cancers than the one-quarter of men and women with the lowest intakes of the vitamin. Subjects in the highest quartile of vitamin K2 had a 62% reduced risk of lung cancer and lung cancer mortality. For prostate cancer this figure was 42% reduced risk.

"It is at least remarkable that cancer-prevention was found to occur at similar intakes of vitamin K2 as the previously observed protection against cardiovascular disease and mortality. Both for cancer protection and cardiovascular disease prevention a nutritional dose of 45 micrograms per day was found to show a significant effect, although probably more profound effects may even be expected from higher doses" says Cees Vermeer, PhD, Associate Professor of Biochemistry VitaK BV,  Maastricht University.

The study has been appreciated by Leon Schurgers, PhD, from the Cardiovascular Research Institute CARIM at the University of Maastricht and vice president of NattoPharma, Oslo, Norway. "The anti-carcinogenic effect of K2 vitamins has been suggested in several previous papers. The study of Nimptsch and colleagues confirms and adds significant evidence that especially vitamin K2 have anti-carcinogenic properties. The beauty of this paper is that the effect is found at nutritional doses of vitamin K2" says Schurgers.

"The study is of great importance and indicates how important daily intake of vitamin K2 (MenaQ7) is for a healthy life. MenaQ7 has already been shown to prevent osteoporosis and inhibit vascular calcification. Now it is also related to decrease in cancer risk and cancer mortality" says Morten Sundsto, CEO of NattoPharma, he continues: "in this study it is shown again that only vitamin K2 has an effect whereas vitamin K1 has not. Since our food provides insufficient amounts of vitamin K2, our product MenaQ7 will contribute significantly to general health. We are working on both MenaQ7 supplements and foods enriched with MenaQ7 to supply the population with adequate amounts of vitamin K2."