Vitamin K is the name of a group of related vitamins. The most popular being Phylloquinone or Vitamin K1 found in most supplements. Vitamin K3 or menadione is a synthetic derivative commonly used in nutritional cancer therapies. However in the last decade most of the research has turned to Vitamin K2 or Menaquinones.
Vitamin K2 provides major protection from osteoporosis, cardiovascular blockages and pathological calcification. Vitamin K2’s job is to put calcium in the right places such as bones and blood and keep it from being deposited in the wrong places such as calcification of blood vessels, bone spurs and calcification of soft tissues. The reason Vitamin K2 is relatively obscure is due to it being the most expensive form and thus most companies prefer to use the cheaper yet inferior Vitamin K1.
Vitamin K2 and Your Heart
Vitamin K2 has been reported to decrease serum cholesterol and cholesterol deposits in the aorta, contributing to the suppression of atherosclerosis. Vitamin K2 has been linked to a reduction in coronary heart disease. In fact one very large and significant study conducted in the Netherlandsin 2004 followed 4800 healthy men and women for ten years. It found vitamin K2 reduced the risk of coronary heart disease mortality by 50%1 Aortic calcification was also reduced by 30-40% in this famous Rotterdam study.
Vitamin K2 Safety
If you take Coumadin, Heparin, or another anti-coagulant you should consult your physician before taking vitamin K2 supplements. Vitamin K2 helps normal coagulation of blood. High levels ofK2do not cause abnormal blood clotting. Most vitamin K2 supplements offer 45 – 150 micrograms per day.
Vitamin K2 benefits include
- Helps reduce the level calcium in your blood stream
- Supports cardiovascular health
- Helps strengthen your bones
- Aids in calcium absorption in your bones
- Helps increase bone density levels
We recommend using the Natto derived menaquinone-7 (MK-7) form of Vitamin K2 as it is superior.
References.
Geleijnse, J.M. et al 2004: Dietary intake of menquinone (Vitamin K2) is associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease: The Rotterdam Study. Am Soc Nutr Science. May 2004. Nutritional Epidemiology
