Vitamin K Lowers Risk of Diabetes

UTRECHT, the NetherlandsAccording to Dutch researchers, phylloquinone and menaquinones (vitamin K) intake may be associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes (Diabetes Care. April 27, 2010). Data of a prospective cohort study in 38,094 Dutch men and women, aged 20 to 70 years was used. Dietary phylloquinone and menaquinones intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Diabetes cases were mainly ascertained via self report and verified against medical records.

During 10.3 years follow-up, 918 incident diabetes cases were documented. In a multivariate model adjusting for diabetes risk factors and dietary factors, phylloquinone intake tended to be associated (P=0.08) with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes with a hazard ratio of 0.81 for the highest versus the lowest quartile. For menaquinones intake, a linear, inverse association (P=0.038) with risk of type 2 diabetes was observed with a hazard ratio of 0.93 for each 10 g increment in the multivariate model.