Vitamin K1-rich diet linked to 16% lower COPD rates and improved lung function, scientists find

According to new research from Australia’s Edith Cowan University (ECU), people who eat more vitamin K1-rich foods such as leafy green vegetables may have a lower risk of developing chronic lung disease. 

The study authors from ECU’s Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute analyzed the two main forms of vitamin K: K1 from foods like spinach, kale, and broccoli and K2, which is found in meat, eggs, and dairy.

The researchers discovered that those who ate the most vitamin K1 were less likely to develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). They add that half a million Australians have COPD, which is a progressive and life-threatening lung condition that makes it hard to breathe.

“We tracked more than 179,000 adults over a decade and found that people who ate more vitamin K1-rich green vegetables had better lung function and were less likely to develop COPD,” explains ECU researcher Chengfeng Li.

“Just one extra serve of leafy greens like kale, about one and a half to two cups a day, is an achievable way to boost your vitamin K1 intake.”

Risk reduction

The study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition analyzed data from 179,062 UK Biobank participants without COPD or asthma. Researchers specifically assessed how dietary vitamin K1 and K2 intakes relate to COPD, asthma risk, and lung function. They also evaluated whether these associations differed by sex, smoking status, and occupation.

Over a 10.5-year follow-up, the findings reveal that participants with the highest intake of vitamin K1 had an estimated 16% lower rate of COPD compared to those eating the least.

Over a 10.5-year follow-up, the findings reveal that participants with the highest intake of vitamin K1 had an estimated 16% lower rate of COPD compared to those eating the least.

Additionally, their lungs performed better at holding and moving more air, which is a key indicator of good respiratory health.

“Vitamin K likely activates a protein that protects the lungs’ elastic fibers — the tiny structures that let your lungs expand and contract,” says study author and associate professor at ECU, Marc Sim.

“When these fibers break down, breathing becomes harder over time. This nutrient may help keep lung tissue flexible and prevent damage.”

Meanwhile, the researchers observed no association between vitamin K2 and COPD rates. They note that this type also showed weaker and nonlinear associations with lung function.

Differences in food sources

The research team notes that vitamin K1-rich leafy greens offer additional nutrients like fiber and antioxidants that may boost its beneficial effect. Meanwhile, they say that vitamin K2’s main food sources, including processed and red meat, are linked to poorer health outcomes.

The study also found no link between vitamin K and asthma. The authors suggest that this may reflect fundamental differences between COPD and asthma. They explain that oxidative stress and tissue degradation are central to COPD, which can be influenced by nutrient-related mechanisms, but asthma is characterized by complex immune dysregulation with lower effects of vitamin K intake.

The team also found stronger links between vitamin K1 and lung function in participants who smoke or have high-risk occupations. However, the researchers stress that a diet high in leafy greens does not cancel out the negative health impact of smoking. “The biggest thing you can do for your lungs is to quit smoking and reduce your exposure to environmental pollution,” stresses Li.

“But a healthy diet may still play a supporting role by counteracting some of the damage caused by these harmful factors. Eating more leafy greens is a simple step that could help support lung health over time.”

Latest in vitamin K science

In other recent research advances in the field, a two-year study recently confirmed that vitamin K2, in the form of menaquinone-7 (MK-7), helped to reduce the progression of coronary artery calcification by a third compared to a placebo. This condition is a recognized predictor of cardiovascular disease. This study involved Gnosis by Lesaffre’s branded MK-7 ingredient, MenaQ7.

A separate clinical study suggested that Balchem’s vitamin K2, K2Vital, may support neuromuscular signaling post-exercise in older adults. This pathway supports nerve-muscle communication and helps maintain muscle control.

Scientists have also previously explored how the common food bacterium Lactococcus lactis can be engineered to overproduce vitamin K2, offering a greener and more cost-effective alternative to chemical synthesis or extraction from plants and animals.