Vitamin K2 May Inhibit Liver Cancer 28986

Vitamin K2 May Inhibit Liver Cancer

OSAKA, Japan--Vitamin K2 may deter the development of hepatocellularcarcinoma in women with viral cirrhosis of the liver, according to a new studypublished in the July 21 issue of Journal of the American Medical Association(JAMA) (292, 3:358-361, 2004) (http://jama.ama-assn.org). The study wasoriginally launched to assess the long-term effects of vitamin K2 on bone lossin women with viral liver cirrhosis; however, study participants also met thenecessary criteria for examination of the effects of the vitamin on theprogression of liver cancer.

In the study, 40 women diagnosed with viral liver cirrhosis were admitted toa university hospital between 1996 and 1998 and randomized to a treatment orcontrol group. The treatment group received 45 mg/d of vitamin K2. Participantsin both the treatment and control groups received symptomatic therapy to treatascites (accumulation of serous fluid in the spaces between tissues and organsin the abdominal cavity), if needed, and dietary guidance.

Hepatocellular carcinoma was identified in two of the 21 women given vitaminK2 and nine of the 19 women in the control group. The risk ratio for thedevelopment of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients administered vitamin K2 was13 percent after adjustment for factors such as age, platelet count and serumalbumin.

The scientists concluded there is a possible role for vitamin K2 in theprevention of hepatocellular carcinoma in women with viral cirrhosis. Theresults of the trial support previous research indicating vitamin K2 may play arole in controlling cell growth.