Denmark: Menaquinone-7 (MK-7), also known as vitamin K2, plus vitamin D supplementation for 2 years did not influence progression of aortic valve calcification (AVC) in elderly men with an AVC score >300 AU, a recent study has found. Results from the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial appear in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.
Menaquinone-7 (MK-7) is a cofactor for the carboxylation of proteins involved in the inhibition of arterial calcification and in previous studies has been suggested to reduce the progression rate of AVC in patients with aortic stenosis, a narrowing of the valve that controls blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body.

The trial included men from the community with an AVC score >300 arbitrary units (AU) on cardiac noncontrast computer tomography. 365 men were randomized to daily treatment with tablet 720 μg MK-7 plus 25 μg vitamin D or matching placebo for 24 months. Mean age was 71.0 years.
The change in the AVC score was the primary outcome. change in aortic valve area and peak aortic jet velocity on echocardiography, heart valve surgery, change in aortic and coronary artery calcification, and change in dp-ucMGP (dephosphorylated-undercarboxylated matrix Gla-protein) were the secondary outcomes.
Based on the study, the researchers reported the following findings:
The mean increase in AVC score was 275 AU and 292 AU in the intervention and placebo groups, respectively.
The mean difference on AVC progression was 17 AU.
The mean change in aortic valve area was 0.02 cm2 and in peak aortic jet velocity was 0.04 m/s.
The progression in aortic and coronary artery calcification score was not significantly different between patients treated with MK-7 plus vitamin D and patients receiving placebo.
There was no difference in the rate of heart valve surgery (1 versus 2 patients; P=0.99), all-cause death (1 versus 4 patients), or cardiovascular events (10 versus 10 patients).
Compared with patients in the placebo arm, a significant reduction in dp-ucMGP was observed with MK-7 plus vitamin D (-212 pmol/L versus 45 pmol/L).
To sum up the findings, 2 years MK-7 plus vitamin D supplementation did not influence AVC progression in elderly men with an AVC score >300 AU.
Reference:
The study titled, "Vitamin K2 and D in Patients With Aortic Valve Calcification: A Randomized Double-Blinded Clinical Trial," was published in the journal Circulation.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.121.057008