The Amazing Benefits of Vitamin K2
Vitamin K2 health benefits include an important role in bone health, cardiovascular health, and blood clotting. It’s also essential for the formation of proteins that help to transport calcium throughout the body, ensuring that it reaches areas where it needs to be used – such as the bones and soft tissues.
Vitamin K2 Benefits
- reduces calcium build up in unwanted areas such as the arteries or joints, thus protecting against damage from excess calcium buildup.
- reduces calcification of arteries by as much as 50%, reducing risk for heart attack and stroke.
- improves bone density and strength due to its role in helping deposit calcium into bones where it can be used for structural strength.
- is necessary for normal blood clotting, which helps reduce risk of excessive bleeding and hemorrhage during injury or trauma.
How Vitamin K2 Benefits Your Health
Vitamin K2 works by activating certain proteins in the body which are required for healthy cells including osteoblasts (bone forming cells) and osteocytes (cells that regulate bone formation).
It also assists with the production of other vitamins needed for good health, including Vitamin D3, which stimulates absorption of Vitamin A and Vitamin D3 itself.
Vitamin K2 health benefits : Hormones, Anemia, Osteoporosis, and more
Vitamin K2 is necessary for the synthesis of certain hormones, proteins, and other molecules in the body.
It helps create Vitamin D3-binding protein (DBP), which is vital for Vitamin D3 metabolism and its ability to transport calcium into the bones.
The vitamin also assists with Vitamin A metabolism by helping convert Vitamin A into a form that is more easily absorbed in the body.
Vitamin K2 deficiency has been linked to
- anemia
- osteoporosis
- arterial calcification
- cardiovascular problems
- Vitamin D3 deficiency
More Vitamin K2 health benefits
– Vitamin K2 plays a role in producing Vitamin E, which helps protect cells from oxidative damage and may be beneficial for reducing the risk of heart disease and certain cancers.
– K2 has been studied for its potential role in preventing cancer. It was initially thought to potentially protect against cancer for its role in helping Vitamin D3 bind to cells in the body, thus inhibiting cell growth and division. It also may play a role in preventing oxidative damage to cells by neutralizing free radicals, which can contribute to cancer development.
In fact, Vitamin K2 appears to have strong potential in cancer prevention — more research is definitely warranted.
– This particular vitamin benefits cardiovascular disease (CVD). It is essential for proper Vitamin D3 metabolism, which helps transport calcium into bones, as well as other vitamins like Vitamin A and Vitamin E, which are important for reducing oxidative damage.
– Vitamin K2 plays an important role in preventing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) due to its ability to reduce calcification of arteries. [Source]
How Vitamin K2 Benefits Health of Your Brain
Vitamin K2 plays an important role in preventing brain-related conditions, such as cardiac embolism, stroke and other vascular diseases. This is due to the fact that It helps Vitamin D3 bind to cells in the body, which inhibits cell growth and division.
This potent K2 vitamin also neutralizes free radicals which can contribute to the development of these brain-related conditions.
How Vitamin K2 Benefits Health of Your Heart
Vitamin K2 plays an important role in promoting heart health due to its ability to reduce calcification of arteries. Vitamin K2 helps Vitamin D3 bind to cells in the body, thus inhibiting cell growth and division. Vitamin K2 also neutralizes free radicals which can contribute to cardiovascular disease (CVD) development.
How Vitamin K (1 and 2) Works
Overall, Vitamin K2 has a plethora of potential health benefits due to its role in Vitamin A, Vitamin D3 and Vitamin E metabolism. Vitamin K2 helps improve bone density, reduce calcium build-up in the arteries and joints, promote normal blood clotting responses throughout the body.
Active Constituents:
Menaquinone and phylloquinone are two forms of Vitamin K2. Menaquinone, also known as MK-4, is found in animal products and is a synthetic form of Vitamin K2. Phylloquinone, also known as Vitamin K1, is found in plant-based foods, and is often the form of Vitamin K2 found in supplements.
In addition to menaquinone (MK-4) and phylloquinone (Vitamin K1), Vitamin K2 is also composed of the active forms MK-7, MK-8, and MK-9.
Sources of K2 in Your Diet
In your body, Vitamin K is synthesized by bacteria in the intestines during digestion. However, this process doesn’t always produce enough Vitamin K2 for optimal health benefits so eating foods that contain Vitamin K2 is important.
K2 is fat-soluble vitamin and only found in certain animal and plant foods, with the highest concentrations found in fermented foods like natto, a type of Japanese fermented soybean. Other food sources include some dairy products, such as cheese and egg yolks, certain fatty fish like salmon or sardines, liver, chicken breast and some leafy greens like spinach or kale.
Recommended Dosage
The recommended daily intake of Vitamin K2 (MK-7 form) is 90-120mcg a day for adults over 18 years old; however if you are pregnant or breastfeeding you may need more depending on your diet and medical history.
Precautions & Side Effects
As with most vitamins there can be side effects associated with taking too much Vitamin K2; excessive doses may cause abdominal pain, cramps, nausea or vomiting.
Note: Always consult your doctor when starting any supplement regimen. Also see our page on general precautions when taking natural remedies.