Beneficial health effects of Menaquinone‐7 on body composition, glycemic indices, lipid profile, and endocrine markers in polycystic ovary syndrome patients

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of oral vitamin K2 (Menaquinone‐7 [MK‐7]) on clinical and biochemical parameters in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients. METHODS: In this randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical trial, 84 PCOS patients were randomly assigned into the treatment (90 µg Menaquinone‐7 daily for 8 weeks) and placebo groups. Insulin resistance, lipid profile, endocrine biomarkers, and body composition of the participants were measured before and after the intervention. This study was performed in Ghadir Mother & Child Hospital affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. RESULTS: Menaquinone‐7 supplementation, when compared to placebo, significantly decreased serum fasting insulin (p = .002), homeostasis model of assessment insulin resistance (p = .002), and homeostasis model of assessment β‐cell function (p = .02) in addition to a significant increase in quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (p = .001). Also, MK‐7 administration led to significant declines in serum triglyceride (p = .003) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT; p = .03) levels, free androgen index (p < .001), waist circumference (p = .03), and body fat mass (p < .001) as well as significant increases in skeletal muscle (p < .001) and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the beneficial effects of MK‐7 on insulin resistance, fat mass, skeletal muscle, and serum levels of triglyceride, DHT, and SHBG in PCOS patients. Therefore, it seems that MK‐7 supplementation might be an appropriate additive treatment for PCOS patients.