Vitamin K2 is essential for maintaining proper functions of the body. It has a significant impact on the maintenance of healthy bones. Vitamin K2 plays an important role in calcium economy because together with vitamin D3 it cares for strong bones, and assimilates the easiest in the form of MK7. This vitamin modifies and activates proteins in such a way as to give them the ability to bind calcium and place it in where needed. Vitamin K2 is also important for the functioning of osteocalcin – a protein synthesized in the cells responsible for bone formation, the so-called osteoblasts. It also prevents calcification of atherosclerotic plaques and development of cardiovascular diseases.Furthermore, vitamin K2 participates in the blood coagulation process, as it regulates the production of prothrombin that affects blood coagulation.
Symptoms of vitamin K2 deficiency:
Vitamin K2 deficiency may lead to:
- bleeding (e.g. from the gums),
- problems with wound healing,
- disorders in the calcium economy of the body, leading to: osteoporosis, excessive susceptibility to fractures of limbs, calcification of veins and arteries, calcification of the kidneys, stiffness of the spine (limestone oversize on vertebrae), tooth decay.
Symptoms of excess amount of vitamin K2:
No adverse reactions were observed when administering doses of up to 45 mg per day or even higher.
Sources of vitamin K2 in food
Vitamin K2 is found in some foodstuffs of animal origin and in fermented foods. A good source of this vitamin are products with a lot of milk fat, and in particular dairy products obtained in the process of bacterial fermentation, meat from cows, liver and egg yolks.
Vitamin K is fat-soluble which means that low-fat and animal-derived products have almost no vitamin at all.
Supplementation with Vitamin K2:
Supplements which contain Vitamin K2:
Vitamin K2 MK-7 30 servings (Formeds)– product available here
Vitamin K2 D3 MAX 30 servings (Formeds)– product available here
Contraindications:
People taking anticoagulants should consult a physician about the possibility of taking vitamin K2, because it can interfere with the action of these medicines.