The experimental study indicated that K2 inhibits the formation of pits in the bone; increasing the dose of K2 did not change the number of holes, but reduced the surface area. In addition, vitamin K2 only increased the rate of apoptosis of osteoclasts, and the study suggests that VKDP MGP mediates these effects on bone metabolism. Another function of calcium that is still being studied is the metabolism in the testicles. Calcium ions aid in the development and activation of sperm in the testicles as they develop.
By getting a balance of animal foods, plant foods, and fermented foods in the diet, you support the health of your entire body and ensure proper nutrition. Because K2 can pass through the blood-brain barrier, it is an appropriate subject to study in areas such as Parkinson’s disease, characterized in part by neuroinflammation. Recently published research linked low K2 status to neuroinflammatory status in Parkinson’s patients. In addition, a clinical trial in Germany will evaluate the efficacy of vitamin K2 for Parkinson’s patients to determine whether K2 can increase energy levels and improve symptoms in people with mitochondria-related Parkinson’s.
Therefore, vitamin K2 supplementation can HELP support MGP in preventing the buildup of calcium deposits in the arteries. A person can also purchase vitamin K as a stand-alone supplement or in combination with specific nutrients, such as vitamin D, calcium or magnesium. A study published by the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition revealed that increasing the intake of vitamin K2 can reduce the risk of prostate cancer by 35 percent. The authors note that the benefits of K2 were more pronounced for advanced prostate cancer and, more importantly, that vitamin K1 did not provide a prostate benefit. It is possible that vitamin K2 may only benefit B&O for people with pathological bone disorders, including osteoporosis, as suggested by the results of the study by Kobayashi et al. This showed that there is in fact a reduction in the incidence of fractures, but only at mild levels of osteoporosis.
Warfarin works by inhibiting an enzyme that activates vitamin K, which reduces the liver’s ability to produce clotting factors. Taking higher doses of vitamin K can reduce the effectiveness of warfarin and make your blood more likely to clot, which can increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes and pulmonary embolism. Certain medications can also reduce the absorption of vitamin K in the body, including antibiotics and the weight loss drug Orlistat.
It then activates the proteins that lead calcium to the bones and keeps it out of their organs, arteries and soft tissues. Blueberries are considered a superfood and can help maintain healthy bones, lower blood pressure, control diabetes and prevent heart disease. The findings were based on data from more than 11,000 men who participated in the EPIC Heidelberg cohort.
Vitamin D has seen increased interest in recent years, from bone health to relieving depression. The deficiency has also been linked to an increased risk of acute viral respiratory infections. “D3 is safer and more effective with K2 for balancing calcium in the body. Any formulation containing D3 can be improved by K2,” says Jörg Büttinghaus, Kappa’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Animals raised on grasslands consume plants rich in vitamin K1 and convert that K1 into K2 in their bodies. This increased nutrient content is part of why it’s so important to choose animal foods from grassy sources, such as Organic Valley eggs, and it’s an easy trade-off when it comes to feeding your family.
A decrease in serum calcium would be regulated by a negative feedback loop, resulting in decreased activation of calcium receptors in the parathyroid gland. Subsequent secretion of PTH causes increased calcium reabsorption from the kidneys, while serum calcium is also increased by activation of osteoclasts in the bone. The kidneys are also stimulated by PTH to secrete vitamin D, allowing more calcium to be absorbed through calcium channels in the gastrointestinal tract. A Korean study illustrated that when vitamin D and calcium were supplemented with vitamin K, there was a significant improvement in bone mineral density in postmenopausal women over the age of 60.
Many doctors recommend calcium supplements to postmenopausal women to help prevent or treat osteoporosis. The question is whether they should, especially if postmenopausal women are deficient in vitamin K2, putting them at risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Calcium is the main mineral present in the bone matrix, but supplementation with it does not necessarily result in stronger bones as it accumulates in veins and arteries rather than in the bones. According to a 2015 review article, K-2 activates a protein that prevents calcium deposits from forming on the walls of blood vessels. The author cited findings suggesting that a diet high in natural vitamin K2 may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. In this article, we’ll discuss vitamin K-2, its functions, and how it differs from K-1.
This happens in the middle layer, and as a result, the artery becomes stiff and cannot dilate or contract. The underlying pathology is due to a lack of activation of the inhibitory proteins that prevent this mineralization of the blood natural vitamin k2 vessels. MGP is one such protein and works to inhibit the deposition of hydroxyapatite crystals by preventing vascular calcification. This is one of the many VKDPs that vitamin K needs to act as a cofactor in its activation.