Vitamin K: It Helps More Than Just Bones

Vitamin K2 has an excellent reputation for supporting bone health. While this is often the entire focus of vitamin K2, its capabilities and effects on health goes well beyond bones. Amazing information pertaining to vitamin K2 function has been uncovered in recent years. As you learn more about it, you will find that vitamin K2 provides diverse effects for blood vessels, blood sugar, metabolism, immune cells, kidneys, liver, mitochondria, and repair processes and more. Vitamin K2 is needed for all ages. Vitamin K Forms and Sources Vitamin K , a fat-soluble vitamin, was first discovered in 1935. It was first identified as affecting coagulation or clotting pathways. Many discoveries have occurred since that time with the identification of different forms as vitamin K1 and vitamin K2 . Differences occur with structure, absorption rates, locations in the body, and bioavailability. Vitamin K1 is a phylloquinone. Vitamin K2, as MK4 and MK7, are menaquinones. The focus of this article is predominantly on vitamin K2. Vitamin K1 primarily contributes to healthy coagulation and is essential for blood clotting. It is found in green leafy vegetables, some plant oils, and lesser quantities in other foods. These include leafy greens, especially spinach, cooked broccoli, asparagus, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, grapes, plums, kidney beans, yogurt, kiwi, avocado, and mayonnaise. Vitamin K1 can be partially converted into vitamin K2 by the gut, but it has great variability from person to person. Vitamin K2, (MK4) is made by bacterial fermentation in foods. Its main function is to prevent calcium from depositing in the lining of blood vessels. It is found in the fermented Japanese food natto, various hard (Gouda, etc) and soft (blue cheese, etc) cheese but its presence depends on the amount of fermentation. It is also found in egg yolk, butter, lard, chicken liver, salami, chicken, […]

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