A daily dose of leafy greens could do more than support your bones — it may also protect your heart.
New research published in the European Journal of Nutrition suggests that eating more vegetables rich in vitamin K1 — like spinach, kale and broccoli — may reduce the risk of atherosclerotic vascular diseases (ASVD), a leading cause of heart attacks and strokes.
The study, led by Edith Cowan University (ECU) PhD student Montana Dupuy, focused on older women in the Perth Longitudinal Study of Ageing in Women.
“Leafy green and cruciferous vegetables, like spinach, kale and broccoli, contain Vitamin K1 which may assist in preventing vascular calcification processes that characterise cardiovascular disease,” Dupuy said. “The great news is that these vegetables can be easily incorporated into your daily meals.”
Researchers found that women who consumed about 30% more vitamin K1 than recommended had a lower long-term risk of ASVD.
“Of importance, when we examined the blood vessels in the neck, those with a higher Vitamin K1 intake also had less thickening of these blood vessels, a marker of atherosclerosis,” said ECU Senior Research Fellow Dr. Marc Sim.
Vitamin K1 also may support bone strength and overall musculoskeletal health. With these findings, ECU’s Future Foods and Digital Gastronomy Lab is developing vitamin K1-rich meals for use in clinical trials and specialized community nutrition programs.
“We are now creating new foods which pack more leafy greens that are rich in Vitamin K1,” said ECU Postdoctoral Research Fellow Dr. Liezhou Zhong. “These novel foods can be used in communities with special nutritional and dietary requirements, such as aged care residents.”
This study was funded by several Australian health and research organizations, including Healthway, the National Health and Medical Research Council, the National Heart Foundation and the Department of Health in Western Australia. The researchers also received support from Edith Cowan University and Royal Perth Hospital. Importantly, none of these funders were involved in how the study was conducted or reported.