Vitamin K1 Linked to Lower COPD Risk and Better Lung Function in 179,000 Adults
A prospective study of over 179,000 UK adults found that higher dietary vitamin K1 intake was associated with a 16% lower rate of COPD and meaningfully better lung function, including higher FVC and FEV1 measurements. The protective effect plateaued at around 250 micrograms per day — roughly one serving of kale or one to two cups of leafy greens. Vitamin K2 showed no significant association with COPD or asthma. Notably, the lung function benefits of vitamin K1 were strongest in smokers and people in high-risk occupations. No associations were found between either form of vitamin K and adult-onset asthma. These findings suggest that vitamin K1, abundant in green leafy vegetables, may play an important role in preserving respiratory health through its involvement in vitamin K-dependent proteins that maintain lung structure.