A recent randomized controlled trial investigated whether daily supplementation with vitamin K2 could slow harmful vascular changes in adults with stages 3–5 chronic kidney disease (CKD). People living with CKD face a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular disease due to accelerated vascular aging and calcium buildup in arterial walls. Researchers focused on the MK-7 form of vitamin K2 (90 µg per day), which is known to activate vitamin-K–dependent proteins that help regulate calcium deposition in blood vessels.

Participants in the study were assigned to one of two groups: vitamin K2 combined with low-dose vitamin D, or low-dose vitamin D alone. Over a nine-month period, the investigators evaluated carotid artery wall thickness, plaque progression, and blood biomarkers associated with vascular calcification.

Results showed that individuals receiving vitamin K2 experienced markedly slower thickening of the carotid artery wall. Plaque progression was reduced by more than 55 percent compared with the control group. In addition, laboratory markers linked to arterial calcification improved meaningfully in the vitamin K2 group, suggesting better regulation of calcium metabolism. Coronary artery calcium scores remained largely stable across both groups, an important finding given the high baseline cardiovascular risk in CKD.

These outcomes support the growing scientific interest in vitamin K2 as a potential modulator of vascular health. In CKD, abnormalities in mineral metabolism accelerate calcification and stiffening of arteries. Vitamin K2 activates matrix Gla protein and other protective factors that inhibit inappropriate calcium deposition, which may explain the observed benefits. The trial therefore indicates that vitamin K2 supplementation could represent a simple, low-cost approach to slowing vascular aging and improving arterial integrity in this vulnerable population.

While the findings are promising, the authors emphasize that larger and longer trials are needed to confirm clinical outcomes such as heart attack, stroke, and mortality. Nevertheless, the study contributes to existing evidence highlighting the link between vitamin K status, arterial calcification, and cardiovascular disease—particularly in CKD patients, whose risk is already elevated.

BOTTOM FACT: Daily vitamin K2 (MK-7) supplementation significantly slows arterial plaque progression and improves biomarkers of vascular calcification in chronic kidney disease patients.

SOURCE: Clinical Nutrition; supporting context from the American Heart Association, National Kidney Foundation, Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines, Journal of the American College of Cardiology, and Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.