Vitamin K Ko's Diabetes

Vitamin K protects men against diabetes by reducing insulin resistance-a major factor in the development of type 2 diabetes.

Recent finding: Men who took 500 micrograms (mcg) of vitamin K daily for 36 months were significantly less likely to develop insulin resistance. The effect was not found in women.

Good food sources of vitamin K: Cooked kale, with more than 1,000 mcg per cup... cooked spinach, 760 mcg per cup... cooked collard greens, about 700 mcg per cup.

Sarah L. Booth, PhD, associate director, Vitamin K Research Laboratory at Tufts University's Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Boston.