Role of Vitamin K in Intestinal Health

Abstract

Intestinal diseases, such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) and colorectal cancer (CRC) generally characterized by clinical symptoms, including malabsorption, intestinal dysfunction, injury, and microbiome imbalance, as well as certain secondary intestinal disease complications, continue to be serious public health problems worldwide. The role of vitamin K (VK) on intestinal health has drawn growing interest in recent years. In addition to its role in blood coagulation and bone health, several investigations continue to explore the role of VK as an emerging novel biological compound with the potential function of improving intestinal health. This study aims to present a thorough review on the bacterial sources, intestinal absorption, uptake of VK, and VK deficiency in patients with intestinal diseases, with emphasis on the effect of VK supplementation on immunity, anti-inflammation, intestinal microbes and its metabolites, antioxidation, and coagulation, and promoting epithelial development. Besides, VK-dependent proteins (VKDPs) are another crucial mechanism for VK to exert a gastroprotection role for their functions of anti-inflammation, immunomodulation, and anti-tumorigenesis. In summary, published studies preliminarily show that VK presents a beneficial effect on intestinal health and may be used as a therapeutic drug to prevent/treat intestinal diseases, but the specific mechanism of VK in intestinal health has yet to be elucidated.

Celiac Disease and Thrombotic Events: Systematic Review of Published Cases

“…Firstly, malabsorption caused by CD often leads to vitamin deficiencies (vitamin K, B6, B12, and folate deficiencies) [ 17 , 38 ]. Vitamin K, as a coenzyme in glutamic acid carboxylation, is a cofactor for the synthesis of protein C and its cofactor protein S [ 39 ]. Deficiency of protein C and protein S leads to uncontrolled coagulation activation and consequential thrombosis [ 40 ].…”

Natural Inhibitors of P-glycoprotein in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

“…Furthermore, it is known that the dysfunction of the intestinal microbiome is associated with both the outcome of chemotherapy and adverse events, in many types of neoplastic tumors as well as in AML [ 58 , 59 ]. Many natural compounds are able to modify the response to therapy by modulating the microbiota [ 60 , 61 , 62 ]. It has been documented, for example, that there is a bidirectional regulation between the curcumin, which implements the intestinal bacterial flora, and itself which can biotransform the curcumin.…”

Vitamin K and the Visual System: A Narrative Review

“…Corollaries to the above discussion are the facts that 75% or more of the dietary PK and MK is not converted to MD, and that the conversion PK> MD>MK4 does not explain the mechanism for the accumulation of PK in the eye and brain. PK and MK, as lipophilic vitamins, along with cholesterol and carotenoids such as lutein and zeaxanthin , are insoluble non-swelling amphiphilic polar lipids, absorbed along with other dietary fats as has been expertly reviewed by Ji et al in 2009 [53] and again by Shearer et al in 2012 [54], and more recently by Lai et al in 2022 [55]. Important with respect to the ocular system is the fact LDL and HDL each carry approximately 7% of serum associated PK [56], with LDL containing both MK4 and MK9 forms as well, while HDL was found to carry only MK4 [57], which may be particularly important with respect to MK4 preferential concentration in the eye and brain.…”