27 Jul 2021 --- Vitamin K2 may reduce cardiovascular oxidative stress and vascular calcification caused by nicotine intake, such as that from cigarettes or e-cigarettes. This is according to a new study backed by NattoPharma. The research investigated possible mechanisms of nicotine-induced vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) calcification and examined vitamin K2 as a potential therapy.“In this study, we show that smoking impacts cardiovascular disease by increasing oxidative stress resulting in accelerated vascular calcification,” explains Leon Schurgers, corresponding study author. Schurgers is also a professor and vice-chair of biochemistry at the Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM) at Maastricht University in the Netherlands.
