Phylloquinone up

There are so many reasons to make sure you’re getting plenty of vitamin K1–flexible arteries, strong bones, and a lower risk of diabetes, just to name a few. And new research is adding one more benefit to this already impressive roster.

Vitamin K1, also called phylloquinone, could save your memory, too.

As part of this recent study, researchers analyzed data from the Québec Longitudinal Study on Nutrition and Successful Aging (NuAge). And they found men and women who had the highest levels of this key nutrient at age 70 and beyond also scored significantly better on tests of verbal episodic memory.

Episodic memory is what you use to recall past events according to time and place–like where you left your glasses or parked your car. Needless to say it’s critical to daily functioning. And it’s also one of the first aspects of your memory to suffer.

Vitamin K1 deficiency has always been considered pretty rare. But new evidence suggests that it may actually be more common that once thought.

The good news here is that there’s a very simple way to keep your vitamin K levels in the black. Fill up on phylloquinone-rich foods like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and dark leafy greens.

Source:
“Vitamin K status and cognitive function in healthy older adults.” Neurobiol Aging. 2013 Dec;34(12):2777-83.