The Claim

In hemodialysis patients with established coronary artery calcification (CAC ≥30), vitamin K2 supplementation at 360 μg three times weekly for 18 months does not significantly reduce progression of coronary artery calcification as measured by Agatston score, despite improving a biomarker of vitamin K status.

Source: Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial of the Effect of Treatment with Vitamin K2 on Vascular Calcification in Hemodialysis Patients (Trevasc-HDK)

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports
78score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Cause and effect
1 study reviewed
In plain English

In patients on hemodialysis with advanced coronary artery calcification, taking 360 micrograms of vitamin K2 three times per week for 18 months does not reduce the worsening of calcification measured by Agatston score, even though a blood marker of vitamin K status improves.

See the scientific wording

In hemodialysis patients with established coronary artery calcification (CAC ≥30), vitamin K2 supplementation at 360 μg three times weekly for 18 months does not significantly reduce progression of coronary artery calcification, as measured by Agatston score, despite improving a biomarker of vitamin K status.

Why this might work

Vitamin K2 activates a protein that should stop calcium from building up in artery walls, but even when this protein is fully activated, calcium deposits continue to grow in people with severe existing calcification.

Supported mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study
  1. Study: Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial of the Effect of Treatment with Vitamin K2 on Vascular Calcification in Hemodialysis Patients (Trevasc-HDK)

    In people on dialysis with heart artery calcification, taking vitamin K2 for 18 months didn't stop the calcification from getting worse, even though it improved a blood marker linked to vitamin K. So, the supplement didn't help the heart arteries.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

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