Editing Openai/69101fc6-f990-800a-9638-7716259af6c4 (section)

=== (key actives: vitamin K1/K2 (MK-7/MK-4), lutein/zeaxanthin, lycopene/astaxanthin) ===
* dp-ucMGP (vitamin-K status) ↓ ~30–50% in ~12 weeks with MK-7 (dose-dependent); sometimes pulse-wave velocity improves Measure: serum dp-ucMGP (calcification risk surrogate) Why: K-dependent carboxylation activates MGP, an inhibitor of vascular calcification; lower dp-ucMGP = better K status. ScienceDirect<ref>{{cite web|title=ScienceDirect|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0021915012006375|publisher=sciencedirect.com|access-date=2025-11-09}}</ref>PubMed<ref>{{cite web|title=PubMed|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36695702/|publisher=pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov|access-date=2025-11-09}}</ref>
* Undercarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC) ↓ → better bone K status Measure: serum ucOC (or total/percent ucOC) Why: carboxylation of bone proteins improves bone metabolism. (Supported by K trials; dp-ucMGP citations above.)
* Macular Pigment Optical Density (MPOD) ↑ typically within 8–16 weeks on lutein/zeaxanthin (e.g., ~3–27% in one 16-wk study; many RCTs ≥12 wks show increases) Measure: heterochromatic flicker photometry or retinal imaging MPOD; serum carotenoids; skin carotenoids (RRS) Why: xanthophylls accumulate in the macula, filtering blue light and quenching ROS → potential visual function benefits. Nature<ref>{{cite web|title=Nature|url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-66962-2|publisher=nature.com|access-date=2025-11-09}}</ref>Advances in Nutrition<ref>{{cite web|title=Advances in Nutrition|url=https://advances.nutrition.org/article/S2161-8313%2822%2900503-8/fulltext|publisher=Advances in Nutrition|access-date=2025-11-09}}</ref>