A study published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine investigated the effects of Vitamin K2 on prostate cancer. Researchers found that high-dose Vitamin K2 (50–100 micromolar) significantly reduced the growth of both hormone-dependent and hormone-independent prostate cancer cells. It worked by triggering apoptosis (programmed cell death) through activation of caspase-3 and caspase-8, while also lowering androgen receptor (AR’ expression and reducing PSA levels in androgen-sensitive cancer cells.
Beyond slowing cell growth, Vitamin K2 also suppressed key survival and inflammatory pathways, including AKT and NF-?B signaling. It reduced inflammatory and angiogenic markers such as IL-6, IL-8, HMGB1, RAGE, and VEGF-A, which are associated with tumor progression and blood vessel formation. In mouse models, Vitamin K2 treatment significantly decreased tumor size and angiogenesis, suggesting it may have therapeutic potential against aggressive and treatment-resistant prostate cancer.
PMCID: PMC3767046 PMID: 24062781