Vitamin K2 may reduce the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, according to a study of fruit flies that scientists said could have significant implications for human patients.
The study, led by neuroscientist Patrik Verstreken, with the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, found K2 counteracts the effects of a genetic defect that leads to Parkinson.

His research -- done in collaboration with colleagues from Northern Illinois University and published in the journal Science -- could lead to potential new treatments for Parkinson’s patients.
"It appears from our research that administering vitamin K2 could possibly help patients with Parkinson's. However, more work needs to be done to understand this better," said Verstreken.
For the study, researchers examined the effects of vitamin K2 on the cells of fruit flies, which are frequently used in lab experiments to study genetic activity. Verstreken and his team used fruit flies with a genetic defect linked to Parkinson's. They found when the flies were given vitamin K2, it undid the effects of the defective gene on energy production in cells.
The exact cause of Parkinson’s is not known, but in recent years several genetic defects – including those studied by Verstreken’s team – have been identified as potential key factors in the disease’s development.