Alzheimer’s and dementia: vitamin K would reduce the risks

In France, more than 1,175,000 people suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for it, but many scientists are looking for ways to slow down the disease. However, according to a new study conducted by the University of AlMaarefa, vitamin K improves cognitive abilities and protects against the risk of dementia.

Vitamin K given to rats

In this study, presented at the Experimental Biology meeting on April 5, 2022, researchers attempted to understand the impact of vitamin K on brain function. To do this, they conducted a 17-month trial on three-month-old rats.

One group received a vitamin K supplement – menaquinone-7 – and the other did not.

During this period, the rats underwent a battery of tests “to assess the cognitive level, anxiety and depressive-like behavior of the latter”, say the authors. The modified T-maze, the Crawleys sociability test and the swimming test were thus used to observe the rodents.

Brain tissue has also been dissected to assess the vitamin’s neuroprotective mechanisms.

At the end of the work, the rats given the vitamin K supplements showed reduced levels of cognitive impairment, depression and anxiety. The researchers also observed, in this group, “improved spatial memory and learning ability”.

“Vitamin K2 has demonstrated a very promising impact in impeding behavioral, functional, biochemical and histopathological changes associated with aging in the senile brain.”, say the authors of the study. It will nevertheless be necessary to wait for the release of other work on humans to understand all the effects of vitamin K on the brain.

Vitamin K, essential for the proper functioning of the body

Vitamin K has long been recognized by health experts for its key role in blood clotting. It also participates in communications between nerve cells and in the maintenance of bone tissue.

It exists in several forms: vitamin K1 (phytomenadione, phylloquinone or phytonadione), vitamin K2 (menaquinones) and vitamin K3, synthetic, found in drugs.

We also find this vitamin in the body – it is produced by intestinal bacteria – but also in food: dark green vegetables (broccoli, spinach, parsley, cabbage), vegetable oils, fermented dairy products, offal…

Indispensable at any stage of life, it is particularly recommended for newborns to avoid hemorrhagic disease.

In adults, food supplements based on vitamin K are particularly recommended to prevent osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases (calcification of the vessels).