Correlations among vitamin K intake, body fat, lipid profile and glucose homeostasis in adults and the elderly

Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2020 Aug;64(4):436-444. doi: 10.20945/2359-3997000000230. Epub 2020 Apr 6.

Abstract

Objective Recent research has investigated the possible inverse relationship between vitamin K intake and body fat. In addition, an increasing number of studies are supporting a key role for this vitamin in improving lipid profile and insulin sensitivity and reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus, but little is known about what mechanisms would be involved. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between vitamin K intake (in the form of phylloquinone - PK), body fat, lipid profile and markers of glucose homeostasis in adults and the elderly. Subjects and methods A cross-sectional study with 298 participants (46% men) in the São Paulo Health Survey 2014-2015. Spearman correlations were performed to evaluate the associations between vitamin K intake and the biochemical and body composition measures. Results Among normal-weight male adults (n = 15), PK intake presented a positive correlation with the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) (r = 0.525; p = 0.045). Among men with high fat mass index (FMI) (n = 101), PK intake had a negative correlation with homeostasis model assessment estimate for β-cell function (HOMA-β) (r = -0.227; p = 0.022). In women with high FMI (n = 122), PK intake had a negative correlation with HOMA-β (r = -0.199, p = 0.032) and insulin (r = -0.207, p = 0.026). No correlations were found between PK intake and lipid profile. Conclusions Our findings support a potential relationship among PK intake, body fat and markers of glucose homeostasis in adults and the elderly.

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Body Mass Index
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2*
  • Female
  • Glucose
  • Homeostasis*
  • Humans
  • Insulin
  • Insulin Resistance*
  • Lipids
  • Male
  • Vitamin K

Substances

  • Insulin
  • Lipids
  • Vitamin K
  • Glucose

Grants and funding

Funding: this research had financial support from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) under process 153369/2016-7 (Master’s Scholarship). ISA-Capital 2015 is funded by the São Paulo State Foundation for Research Support (Fapesp 2012-22113-9), the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq 402674/2016-2) and the State Secretariat of Health of São Paulo (2013-0.235.936.0). In addition to the financing of the ISA study, the present project is part of the regular research aid Fapesp 15/07971-7, under the responsibility of Profª. Assoc. Lígia Araújo Martini. Fapesp and CNPQ had no role in this article’s design, analysis or writing.