Phylloquinone (Vitamin K1) Intake and Pulse Pressure as a Measure of Arterial Stiffness in Older Adults

Abstract

This study examined the relationships among ethnicity/race, lifestyle factors, phylloquinone (vitamin K1) intake, and arterial pulse pressure in a nationally representative sample of older adults from four ethnic/racial groups: non-Hispanic Whites, non-Hispanic Blacks, Mexican Americans, and other Hispanics. This was a cross-sectional study of U.S. representative sample with data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 2007–2008 and 2009–2010 of adults aged 50 years and older (N = 5296). Vitamin K intake was determined by 24-hour recall. Pulse pressure was calculated as the difference between the averages of systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. Compared to White non-Hispanics, the other ethnic/racial groups were more likely to have inadequate vitamin K1 intake. Inadequate vitamin K1 intake was an independent predictor of high arterial pulse pressure. This was the first study that compared vitamin K1 inadequacy with arterial pulse pressure across ethnicities/races in U.S. older adults. These findings suggest that vitamin K screening may be a beneficial marker for the health of older adults.