Effects of MK-7 Supplementation on Glycemic Status, Anthropometric Indices and Lipid Profile in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a prevalent disorder which accounts for 90–95% of diabetic patients. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of menaquinone (MK-7) supplementation on glycemic indices, anthropometric indices and lipid profile, among patients with T2DM. METHODS: In this double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial, 60 men and women with T2DM were allocated equally into either the MK-7 (200 µg/day) or the placebo group. Physical activity level and dietary intake were assessed using the international physical activity questionnaire-short form (IPAQ-SF) and a 3-day food record, pre- and post-intervention. Anthropometric measures, blood pressure, glycemic indices and lipid profile including fasting blood sugar (FBS), hemoglobin A1c (HBA1C), fasting insulin (FI), homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) were measured at baseline and after twelve weeks. RESULTS: Forty-five patients completed the trial. There were no significant between-group differences for calorie intake, macronutrient intake, physical activity level or anthropometric measures at baseline and at the end of the study. Dietary vitamin K intake increased significantly at the end of the study in the MK-7 (p: 0.02) and placebo (p: 0.001) groups, but intergroup differences were not significant (p: 0.86). FBS (p: 0.01), HbA1c (p: 0.002), fasting insulin (p: 0.01) and HOMA-IR (p: 0.007) decreased significantly in the MK-7 group. Furthermore, after adjustment for the baseline values and changes of vitamin K intake at the end of study, FBS and HbA1C showed significant intergroup changes, and they were significantly lower in the MK-7 group compared to the placebo group. Lipid profile (TG, TC, LDL-C, HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C) did not change significantly within or between groups. CONCLUSION: MK-7 supplementation seems to be effective in the improvement of glycemic indices, but not the lipid profile of patients with T2DM. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: The present study was prospectively registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials on May 2019 (ID: IRCT20100123003140N22).