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Thromb Haemost 2015; 113(05): 1135-1144
DOI: 10.1160/TH14-08-0675
New Technologies, Diagnostic Tools and Drugs
Schattauer GmbH

Menaquinone-7 supplementation improves arterial stiffness in healthy postmenopausal women

A double-blind randomised clinical trial
Marjo H. J. Knapen
1   VitaK & Cardiovascular Research Institute (CARIM), Maastricht University, The Netherlands
,
Lavienja A. J. L. M. Braam
1   VitaK & Cardiovascular Research Institute (CARIM), Maastricht University, The Netherlands
,
Nadja E. Drummen
1   VitaK & Cardiovascular Research Institute (CARIM), Maastricht University, The Netherlands
,
Otto Bekers
2   Central Diagnostic Laboratory, University Hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands
,
Arnold P. G. Hoeks
3   Biomedical Engineering, Maastricht University, The Netherlands
,
Cees Vermeer
1   VitaK & Cardiovascular Research Institute (CARIM), Maastricht University, The Netherlands
› Author Affiliations Financial support: This work was supported by Nattopharma (Høvik, Norway). Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the view of Nattopharma.
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 14 August 2014

Accepted after major revision: 31 February 2014

Publication Date:
24 November 2017 (online)

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Summary

Observational data suggest a link between menaquinone (MK, vitamin K2) intake and cardiovascular (CV) health. However, MK intervention trials with vascular endpoints are lacking. We investigated long-term effects of MK-7 (180 μg MenaQ7/day) supplementation on arterial stiffness in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Healthy postmenopausal women (n=244) received either placebo (n=124) or MK-7 (n=120) for three years. Indices of local carotid stiffness (intimamedia thickness IMT, Diameter end-diastole and Distension) were measured by echotracking. Regional aortic stiffness (carotid-femoral and carotid-radial Pulse Wave Velocity, cfPWV and crPWV, respectively) was measured using mechanotransducers. Circulating desphospho-uncarboxylated matrix Gla-protein (dp-ucMGP) as well as acute phase markers Interleukin-6 (IL-6), high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and markers for endothelial dysfunction Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule (VCAM), E-selectin, and Advanced Glycation Endproducts (AGEs) were measured. At baseline dp-ucMGP was associated with IMT, Diameter, cfPWV and with the mean z-scores of acute phase markers (APMscore) and of markers for endothelial dysfunction (EDFscore). After three year MK-7 supplementation cfPWV and the Stiffness Index β significantly decreased in the total group, whereas distension, compliance, distensibility, Young’s Modulus, and the local carotid PWV (cPWV) improved in women having a baseline Stiffness Index β above the median of 10.8. MK-7 decreased dp-ucMGP by 50 % compared to placebo, but did not influence the markers for acute phase and endothelial dysfunction. In conclusion, long-term use of MK-7 supplements improves arterial stiffness in healthy postmenopausal women, especially in women having a high arterial stiffness.

Keywords

Arterial stiffness - carotid intima-media thickness - menaquinone-7 - pulse wave velocity - Stiffness Index β
 

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