Exploring the Link Between Vitamin K and Depression: A Systematic Review
<i>Background and Objectives:</i> Depression is a multifactorial mental health disorder involving inflammation, oxidative stress, neuroplasticity deficits, and metabolic dysfunction. Emerging research suggests that vitamin K, beyond its classical roles in coagulation and bone metabolism,...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| author | Mohamad Hisham Hashim Nik Nasihah Nik Ramli Siti Nur Atiqah Zulaikah Nasarudin Maisarah Abdul Mutalib Muhammad Najib Mohamad Alwi Aswir Abd Rashed Rajesh Ramasamy |
| author_facet | Mohamad Hisham Hashim Nik Nasihah Nik Ramli Siti Nur Atiqah Zulaikah Nasarudin Maisarah Abdul Mutalib Muhammad Najib Mohamad Alwi Aswir Abd Rashed Rajesh Ramasamy |
| author_sort | Mohamad Hisham Hashim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Background and Objectives:</i> Depression is a multifactorial mental health disorder involving inflammation, oxidative stress, neuroplasticity deficits, and metabolic dysfunction. Emerging research suggests that vitamin K, beyond its classical roles in coagulation and bone metabolism, may influence neurobiological processes relevant to mood regulation. This systematic review evaluates the association between vitamin K and depressive symptoms and explores potential underlying mechanisms. <i>Materials and Methods:</i> A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Eligible studies included human or animal research examining associations between vitamin K status (dietary intake or serum levels) and depression-related outcomes. Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria: eleven observational studies, one randomized controlled trial (RCT), and two preclinical animal studies. <i>Results:</i> Most observational studies reported an inverse association between vitamin K intake or serum levels and depressive symptoms across diverse populations. One small RCT demonstrated modest improvements in depression scores following vitamin K2 (menaquinone-7) supplementation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Two preclinical studies using non-depression models reported behavioral improvements and reduced oxidative stress following vitamin K2 administration. <i>Conclusions:</i> While preliminary findings suggest a potential role for vitamin K in pathways relevant to depression, the current evidence is limited by cross-sectional designs, lack of isoform-specific analyses, and the absence of depression-focused preclinical models. Mechanisms including inflammation reduction, oxidative stress modulation, sphingolipid regulation, and vitamin K-dependent protein signaling (e.g., GAS6 and osteocalcin) were discussed based on indirect evidence and require further investigation in depression-specific contexts. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-028d6a0e00044d598fb87d9fc1775c46 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1010-660X 1648-9144 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Medicina |
| spelling | doaj-art-028d6a0e00044d598fb87d9fc1775c462025-08-20T02:33:51ZengMDPI AGMedicina1010-660X1648-91442025-05-0161586110.3390/medicina61050861Exploring the Link Between Vitamin K and Depression: A Systematic ReviewMohamad Hisham Hashim0Nik Nasihah Nik Ramli1Siti Nur Atiqah Zulaikah Nasarudin2Maisarah Abdul Mutalib3Muhammad Najib Mohamad Alwi4Aswir Abd Rashed5Rajesh Ramasamy6School of Graduate Studies, Management and Science University, Shah Alam 40100, MalaysiaSchool of Graduate Studies, Management and Science University, Shah Alam 40100, MalaysiaSchool of Graduate Studies, Management and Science University, Shah Alam 40100, MalaysiaSchool of Graduate Studies, Management and Science University, Shah Alam 40100, MalaysiaInternational Medical School, Management and Science University, Shah Alam 40100, MalaysiaNutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health, Malaysia, No.1, Jalan Setia Murni U13/52, Seksyen U13 Setia Alam, Shah Alam 40170, MalaysiaDepartment of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia<i>Background and Objectives:</i> Depression is a multifactorial mental health disorder involving inflammation, oxidative stress, neuroplasticity deficits, and metabolic dysfunction. Emerging research suggests that vitamin K, beyond its classical roles in coagulation and bone metabolism, may influence neurobiological processes relevant to mood regulation. This systematic review evaluates the association between vitamin K and depressive symptoms and explores potential underlying mechanisms. <i>Materials and Methods:</i> A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Eligible studies included human or animal research examining associations between vitamin K status (dietary intake or serum levels) and depression-related outcomes. Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria: eleven observational studies, one randomized controlled trial (RCT), and two preclinical animal studies. <i>Results:</i> Most observational studies reported an inverse association between vitamin K intake or serum levels and depressive symptoms across diverse populations. One small RCT demonstrated modest improvements in depression scores following vitamin K2 (menaquinone-7) supplementation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Two preclinical studies using non-depression models reported behavioral improvements and reduced oxidative stress following vitamin K2 administration. <i>Conclusions:</i> While preliminary findings suggest a potential role for vitamin K in pathways relevant to depression, the current evidence is limited by cross-sectional designs, lack of isoform-specific analyses, and the absence of depression-focused preclinical models. Mechanisms including inflammation reduction, oxidative stress modulation, sphingolipid regulation, and vitamin K-dependent protein signaling (e.g., GAS6 and osteocalcin) were discussed based on indirect evidence and require further investigation in depression-specific contexts.https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/5/861vitamin Kdepressionoxidative stressosteocalcinneuroinflammation |
| spellingShingle | Mohamad Hisham Hashim Nik Nasihah Nik Ramli Siti Nur Atiqah Zulaikah Nasarudin Maisarah Abdul Mutalib Muhammad Najib Mohamad Alwi Aswir Abd Rashed Rajesh Ramasamy Exploring the Link Between Vitamin K and Depression: A Systematic Review Medicina vitamin K depression oxidative stress osteocalcin neuroinflammation |
| title | Exploring the Link Between Vitamin K and Depression: A Systematic Review |
| title_full | Exploring the Link Between Vitamin K and Depression: A Systematic Review |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the Link Between Vitamin K and Depression: A Systematic Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the Link Between Vitamin K and Depression: A Systematic Review |
| title_short | Exploring the Link Between Vitamin K and Depression: A Systematic Review |
| title_sort | exploring the link between vitamin k and depression a systematic review |
| topic | vitamin K depression oxidative stress osteocalcin neuroinflammation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/5/861 |
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