Leafy Greens Linked to Lower COPD Risk via Vitamin K1

A large Australian study from Edith Cowan University, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that higher dietary vitamin K1 from leafy greens (e.g., spinach and kale) is linked to a lower risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Over 179,000 adults were followed for a decade, and those with the highest K1 intake were about 16% less likely to develop COPD and showed stronger lung function. The researchers suggest vitamin K1 helps protect lung elastic fibers, while vitamin K2 did not reduce COPD risk. Smoking remains the major COPD risk factor, with diet possibly counteracting some damage but not replacing quitting and pollution reduction.