This randomized placebo-controlled trial (VitaK-CAC) evaluated whether daily MK-7 (360 µg) vs. placebo for 2 years slows coronary artery calcification (CAC) progression in 180 symptomatic CAD patients with baseline CAC scores of 50–400 Agatston units (AU), conducted at 2 hospitals in the Netherlands.
MK-7 significantly attenuated CAC score progression vs. placebo (P = .02): at 2 years, placebo group rose from 145 to 214 AU, while MK-7 group rose from 135 to 184 AU; CAC increase correlated with noncalcified plaques becoming partially calcified (R² = 0.17; P = .04). No significant adverse effects were observed.
- Single-country, 2-hospital study limits generalizability. - Clinical significance of slowed CAC progression on plaque stability or hard cardiovascular outcomes was not assessed. - CAC score correlation with plaque calcification was modest (R² = 0.17), suggesting other drivers of calcification.
MK-7 supplementation (360 µg/day) slowed CAC progression over 2 years in symptomatic CAD patients, but whether this translates to reduced plaque vulnerability or fewer cardiovascular events remains unknown. Routine MK-7 use for this indication is premature pending outcome data.
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