Phylloquinone Intake Is Associated with Cardiac Structure and Function in Adolescents

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Health
• Nutritional Science
• Adolescent Medicine

Background:

• The relationship between childhood vitamin K intake and cardiac health remains understudied.
• Understanding nutrient impacts on adolescent cardiovascular development is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between phylloquinone (vitamin K-1) intake and left ventricular (LV) structure and function in adolescents.
• To determine if higher vitamin K-1 consumption correlates with improved cardiac parameters in teenagers.

Main Methods:

• Dietary intake, including phylloquinone, was assessed using 24-hour recalls in 766 adolescents (aged 14-18).
• Left ventricular structure (LV mass index, relative wall thickness) and function (midwall fractional shortening, ejection fraction) were measured via echocardiography.
• Associations were analyzed across tertiles of phylloquinone intake, adjusting for numerous covariates.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy significantly decreased with higher phylloquinone intake.
• Lower phylloquinone intake was associated with a 3.3-fold increased odds of LV hypertrophy.
• Higher phylloquinone intake correlated with favorable cardiac remodeling, including lower LV mass index and relative wall thickness.
• Improved LV function, indicated by higher midwall fractional shortening and ejection fraction, was observed with greater phylloquinone consumption.

Conclusions:

• Adolescent data suggest that higher phylloquinone (vitamin K-1) intake is associated with more favorable subclinical cardiac structure and function.
• These findings highlight the potential role of vitamin K-1 in supporting adolescent cardiovascular health.