Author Identifier (ORCID)
Negar Ghasemifard’s ORCID record 
Pratik Pokharel’s ORCID record
Simone Radavelli-Bagatini's ORCID record
Joshua R. Lewis’s ORCID record
Abstract
Purpose:Vitamin K is hypothesised to support vascular integrity and neuronal function through vitamin K-dependent proteins, yet epidemiological evidence for its role in dementia, particularly distinguishing vitamin K1 and K2, is limited. This aetiological study examined associations between dietary vitamin K1 and K2 with incident dementia in a large Danish cohort.
54,968="54,968" dementia-free="dementia-free" participants="participants" (47.5%="(47.5%" male,="male," aged="aged" 50–65="50–65" years)="years)" from="from" the="the" danish="Danish" diet,="Diet," cancer,="Cancer," and="and" health="Health" cohort="cohort" (1993–1997)="(1993–1997)" with="with" dietary="dietary" vitamin="vitamin" k1="K1" (µg/day),="(µg/day)," and="and" k2="K2" (µg="(µg" phylloquinone="phylloquinone" equivalent/day)="equivalent/day)" intakes="intakes" estimated="estimated" from="from" a="a" 192-item="192-item" food="food" frequency="frequency" questionnaire.="questionnaire." incident="Incident" and="and" early-onset="early-onset" dementia="dementia" were="were" identified="identified" through="through" national="national" registries.="registries." cox="Cox" proportional="proportional" hazard="hazard" models="models" with="with" restricted="restricted" cubic="cubic" splines="splines" estimated="estimated" hazard="hazard" ratios="ratios" (hr)="(HR)" across="across" quintiles="quintiles" of="of" intake,="intake," adjusting="adjusting" for="for" demographic,="demographic," lifestyle,="lifestyle," dietary="dietary" factors,="factors," and="and" prevalent="prevalent" comorbidities.
Results: Over a maximum of 28 years of follow-up (median [IQR]: 25.5 [16.1–26.5] years), 4802 (8.7%) participants developed dementia. Vitamin K1 intake showed an inverse association with dementia, with a 14% lower rate in quintile (Q) 5 versus Q1 (HR Q5vsQ1 [95%CI]: 0.86 [0.78–0.93]). The association was stronger for early-onset dementia (< 65 years). In contrast, vitamin K2 intake was associated with higher dementia risk, whereby those with the highest intakes had 14% higher rate (HRQ5vsQ1 [95%CI]: 1.14 [1.04–1.24]).
risk,="risk," while="while" higher="Higher" k2="K2" intake="intake" was="was" associated="associated" with="with" higher="Higher" risk.="risk." these="These" associations="associations" may="may" be="be" confounded="confounded" by="by" dietary="dietary" patterns="patterns" and="and" food="food" sources="sources" associated="associated" with="with" each="each" vitamin="vitamin" form="form" and="and" warrant="warrant" further="further" investigations.="investigations." nevertheless,="Nevertheless," greater="greater" intake="intake" of="of" vitamin="vitamin" k1-rich="K1-rich" vegetables="vegetables" (e.g.="(e.g." spinach,="spinach," cabbages,="cabbages," broccoli,="broccoli," etc.)="etc.)" as="as" part="part" of="of" broader="broader" dietary="dietary" patterns="patterns" may="may" be="be" relevant="relevant" to="to" cognitive="cognitive" health.
Keywords
dementia, diet, epidemiology, vitamin K
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
9-1-2026
Article Number
229
E-ISSN
14366215
ISSN
14366207
Volume
65
Issue
6
PubMed ID
42560451
Publication Title
European Journal of Nutrition
Publisher
Springer
School
Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute / School of Medical and Health Sciences / Centre for Precision Health
RAS ID
100088
Funding Information
The DDCH Study was funded by the Danish Cancer Society, Denmark. This study was supported by a grant from Independent Research Fund Denmark (3101-00054B). PP is funded by a research grant from the Danish Diabetes and Endocrine Academy, which is funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation (Grant Number NNF22SA0079901). The salary of JRL is supported by a National Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellowship (ID: 107323).
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Ghasemifard, N., Sim, M., Pokharel, P., Li, C., Linneberg, A., Bjerregaard, A. A., Olsen, A., Dahm, C. C., Radavelli-Bagatini, S., Laws, S. M., Lewis, J. R., Hodgson, J. M., & Bondonno, N. P. (2026). Associations between dietary vitamin K1 and K2 intake and incident dementia: Findings from the Danish Diet, Cancer, and Health cohort. European Journal of Nutrition, 65, Article 229. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-026-04081-w