Are you having breathing difficulties? You may be low on vitamin K, says study

Nearly half of your platelets, which play an important role in blood clotting, originate in the lung. This unique function of the lung to synthesise platelets, along with the new observation that deficiency of Vitamin K increases odds of respiratory symptoms, show why it is important for lung health, says Dr Sundeep Salvi, Director, Pulmocare Research and Education Foundation

Written by: Anuradha Mascarenhas

4 min readUpdated: Aug 18, 2023 04:20 PM IST

Going by latest research, Vitamin K may be your shield for lung health. (Source: Freepik)

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Are you having breathing difficulties? You may be low on vitamin K, says study

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If you have been battling respiratory issues and asthma and wondering if you have been taking enough of vitamins A, B, C and D, you may have been looking in the wrong direction. Going by latest research, Vitamin K may be your shield for lung health. A Danish community study of 4,092 adult men and women has shown that low levels of functional Vitamin K in the blood aggravated respiratory symptoms, increased the risk of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and raised the odds of lower lung functions on a spirometer. The findings were published in the ERJ Open Research journal.

“This is the first study to have shown a strong association between functional Vitamin K levels measured in blood and poor lung health and may potentially open up new ways for preventing and treating various respiratory conditions”, says Dr Sundeep Salvi, noted pulmonologist and Director, Pulmocare Research and Education Foundation.

How does Vitamin K impact the lungs?

Vitamin K was discovered as a fat-soluble vitamin by Danish biochemist Henrik Dam for which he received the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1943. The K originates from the word “Koagulation Vitamin” as it helped in blood coagulation and stopped bleeding. This vitamin also binds calcium to the bone and other tissues and has an antioxidant property as well. Also remember that nearly half of your platelets, which play an important role in blood clotting, originate in the lung. This unique function of the lung to synthesise platelets, along with this new observation that deficiency of Vitamin K is associated with increased odds of respiratory symptoms, highlight its important role in lung health.

How do low levels of Vitamin K cause breathing problems? Have studies been able to reveal the mechanism?

The mechanism is still not known though studies are ongoing. The Dutch study has showed how a Vitamin K deficiency led to an increased risk of respiratory symptoms like wheezing (classically seen in asthma) and COPD. Earlier studies have already shown that Vitamin K deficiency increased the odds of lung fibrosis, a condition most seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although Vitamin K deficiency is not common, its low levels have been associated with cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, osteoporosis and muscle inflammation. A recent Japanese study showed that Vitamin K intake was associated with a reduced risk of lung cancer (38 per cent in men and 20 per cent in women). So, this vitamin certainly becomes important in therapy.

How can people increase their Vitamin K levels?

Vitamin K is of 2 subtypes: Vitamin K1 whose sources are spinach, broccoli, brussels sprout, cabbage, cauliflower, vegetable oils and cereal grains. Vitamin K2 sources are cheese, natto (fermented soya beans commonly used in Japanese breakfast), eggs, poultry and is also synthesised by intestinal bacteria. Vitamin K1 is primarily involved in blood clotting while Vitamin K2 is important for the proper functioning of various body organs including the heart, kidney, bone muscles and lungs.

Should one take Vitamin K supplements?

Our traditional balanced diet offers enough Vitamin K for its routine function. The daily requirement of Vitamin K is 1 microgram per kilogram of body weight. Additional supplementation is often not required unless your body is consuming excess Vitamin K. Blood vitamin K levels are measured indirectly as functional vitamin K levels because it is mixed with blood cholesterol levels. Although there are few adverse effects associated with Vitamin K intake, they are uncommon, and it is better to take your physician’s advice before you take any supplements.

Anuradha Mascarenhas

Anuradha Mascarenhas is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, she is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism regarding healthcare, science and environment and research developments. She also takes a keen interest in covering women's issues . Professional Background Education: A gold medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master’s degree in Literature. Author: She authored the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist at the WHO. Key Focus: She combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human-interest narratives. Awards and Recognition Anuradha has won several awards including the Press Council of India's national award for excellence in journalism under the gender based reporting category in 2019 and the Laadli Media award (gender sensitivity -2024). A recipient of the Lokmat journalism award (gender category-2022), she was also shortlisted for the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism-2021. Her debut book At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan the inaugural chief scientist of World Health Organisation was also nominated in the Popular Choice Category of JK Paper AUTHER awards. She has also secured competitive fellowships including the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), the Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious 2025 India Cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.” Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) 1. Cancer & Specialized Medical Care "Tata Memorial finds way to kill drug-resistant cancer cells" (Nov 26, 2025): Reporting on a breakthrough for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. Discipline, diet and purpose; How a 97-year-old professor defies ageing'' (Nov 15, 2025) Report about Prof Gururaj Mutalik, the first Head of Department at Pune's B J Government Medical College who at 97 credits his longevity to healthy habits and a strong sense of purpose. 2. Environmental Health (The "Breathless Pune" Series) Long-term exposure even to 'moderate' air leads to chronic heart, lung, kidney issues" (Nov 26, 2025): Part of an investigative series highlighting that even "safe" pollution levels are damaging to vital organs. "For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 level, there was 6-8% jump in medicine sales" (Nov 23, 2025): Using commercial data to prove the direct link between air quality and respiratory illnesses in Pune. 3. Lifestyle & Wellness News "They didn't let cancer, diabetes and heart disease stop them from travelling" (Dec 22, 2025): A collaborative piece featuring survivors who share practical tips for traveling with chronic conditions. At 17, his BP shot up to 200/120 mmHG; Lancet study flags why child and teen hypertension doubled between 2000 and 2020'' (Nov 12,2025)--A report that focusses on 17-year-old-boy's hypertensive crisis and reflects the rising global trend of high blood pressure among children and adolescents. 4. Scientific Recognition & Infrastructure For promoting sci-comm, gender diversity: IUCAA woman prof highlighted in Nature" (Nov 25, 2025): Covering the global recognition of Indian women scientists in gender studies and physics. Pune researchers find a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way from early universe'' (December 3, 2025)- A report on how Indian researchers discovered a massive galaxy that existed when the universe was just 1.5 billion years old , one of the earliest to have been observed so far. Signature Beat: Health, Science & Women in Leadership Anuradha is known for her COVID-19 reportage, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed insights into the Covishield and Covaxin trials. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, often profiling women researchers who are breaking the "leaky pipeline" in STEM fields. Her writing style is scrupulous, often featuring interviews with top-tier scientists and health experts from various institutions. ... Read More

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