Often overlooked, research suggests that vitamin K may be a useful tool to help ward off type 2 diabetes.
People who ate more of both forms of the vitamin—K1 and K2—had lower risk of type 2 diabetes
Researchers collected information on nutrition and health habits from 38,094 adult men and women who were 20 to 70 years old and free of diabetes at the beginning of the study. The researchers classified participants according to the amount of vitamin K in their diet.
After following this group of men and women for just over ten years, and taking into account other factors that may affect diabetes risk, such as family history, obesity, physical activity levels, and smoking, the study revealed the following:
In summary, people who ate more of both forms of the vitamin—K1 and K2—had lower risk of type 2 diabetes.
Many people don’t get enough vitamin K1, the type found in green leafy vegetables. This isn’t surprising given how few of us eat the recommended 5 to 9 servings of vegetables and fruit each day. Use the following tips and tricks to make sure you get all the K you need:
(Diabetes Care 2010; 33:1699–705)