Older Adults With Low Circulating Vitamin K Levels More Likely to Develop Mobility Limitation, Disability

A study published in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences evaluated for the first time the link between biomarkers of vitamin K status and the manifestation of mobility limitation and disability in older adults, reports News-Medical . "We're building on previous studies that found that low levels of circulating vitamin K are associated with slower gait speed and a higher risk of osteoarthritis," said Tufts University's Kyla Shea. The researchers investigated circulating levels of vitamin K (phylloquinone) and a functional measure of vitamin K (plasma ucMGP). Older adults with low levels of circulating vitamin K were more likely to develop mobility limitation and disability, while the plasma ucMGP biomarker did not show clear connections to mobility limitation and disability. Older adults with low circulating vitamin K levels were almost 1.5 times more likely to develop mobility limitation and nearly twice as likely to develop mobility disability, versus subjects with sufficient levels. This finding was consistent in both men and women.