The Claim
Vitamin K2 supplementation reduces vascular calcification in healthy rats and rats with chronic kidney disease, but does not reduce neointimal hyperplasia in rats with chronic kidney disease.
What the research says
Supports is higher
Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
In rats, vitamin K2 supplementation lowers calcium buildup in blood vessels, but it does not reduce abnormal tissue growth in the same vessels, even in rats with kidney disease.
See the scientific wording
Vitamin K2 supplementation reduces vascular calcification in both healthy rats and rats with chronic kidney disease, but does not reduce neointimal hyperplasia in rats with CKD, suggesting a dissociation between the mechanisms driving calcification and tissue overgrowth.
Vitamin K2 turns on a protein called matrix Gla protein, which grabs calcium and stops it from building up in blood vessel walls. This prevents hardening of the arteries. But this same process does not stop the abnormal thickening of the vessel lining, which happens through a different pathway.
What the research says
1 studyGiving vitamin K2 to rats helped reduce calcium buildup in their blood vessels, whether they had kidney disease or not—but it didn’t stop the abnormal tissue growth in rats with kidney disease. This means calcium buildup and tissue overgrowth happen for different reasons.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.