Compositions for treating or preventing cardiovascular disease

摘要

Vitamin K is effective in counteracting cardiovascular disorders such as the reduction in arterial elasticity normally associated with the aging process. A pharmaceutical composition or nutritional formulation comprising vitamin K can be used to combat age-related stiffening of the arteries, and the consequences thereof, namely pulmonary congestion, hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, congestive (right sided) heart failure, left sided or left ventricular failure, chronic cardiac failure, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, Mönckeberg's sclerosis and stroke. In various embodiments, vitamin K can also be used to reduce or reverse calcification of a blood vessel in pre-existing cardiovascular disorders such as arteriosclerosis.

主权项

1. A method of treating or reducing the incidence of age-related stiffening of arteries in a mammal suffering from angina pectoris, hypertension, or a history of stroke and/or other cerebrovascular disorders, comprising
a) measuring degradation of elastic lamellae in the tunica media of said mammal's aorta or common carotid artery, and b) administering to the mammal an effective amount of vitamin K and vitamin D in a composition to treat or reduce the incidence of age-related stiffening of the arteries, wherein said vitamin K is administered in an amount between 10-1000 micrograms/day and said vitamin D is administered in an amount of 2 to 50 micrograms/day and the composition containing no vitamin E, wherein the age-related stiffening of arteries is not associated with arteriosclerosis.