When you hear "vitamin," you might think of Vitamin C for skin beauty, Vitamin B for energy, or Vitamin D for bones. But what about Vitamin K, particularly Vitamin K2? It's not as famous, but it's incredibly important.

Vitamin K2's Amazing Role

1. Vital for Blood Clotting: The primary role of Vitamin K is to help with blood clotting, which is crucial when you're bleeding.

2. Brain Health: Recently, scientists have been excited about Vitamin K2 because it's great for your brain. It can help prevent serious conditions like dementia and Alzheimer's. This is because Vitamin K2 protects brain cells from a type of cell death called ferroptosis, which can harm brain function.

3. Heart Heath: Another huge benefit of Vitamin K2 is reducing the risk of heart diseases by up to 57%. It prevents calcium from depositing in blood vessels, which can block blood flow and lead to heart attacks or strokes. Studies have found that high Vitamin K2 intake lowers calcium deposits in arteries by 52%, significantly reducing heart disease risk.

4. Bone Health: While calcium and Vitamin D are famous for maintaining bone health, Vitamin K2 is just as crucial. It helps balance the activity of osteoblasts (cells that build new bone) and osteoclasts (cells that break down bone). Vitamin K2 activates a protein that helps increase bone density and also reduces the activity of osteoclasts.

A study even showed that taking Vitamin K2 supplements slowed bone density loss and reduced fracture risk in postmenopausal women.

Sources of Vitamin K2

Vitamin K2 is mostly found in animal products like chicken, eel, egg yolks, liver, butter, and cheese, and in fermented foods like natto and sauerkraut. Natto, a fermented soybean dish, is particularly rich in Vitamin K2, making it a top source.

How much do you need?

In the U.S., the recommended intake of Vitamin K is 90-120 mcg per day. For studies related to bone health, the usual intake is around 180 mcg. Vitamin K2 is safe and not harmful, even in large amounts. However, if you're on blood-thinning medication like warfarin, you should consult with your doctor.

Other benefits of Vitamin K2

Vitamin K2 has other health benefits. It's been shown to help prevent the recurrence of liver cancer, improve survival rates, and help with insulin resistance. It also boosts energy efficiency in muscles by increasing the number of mitochondria. These benefits have moved Vitamin K2 from a lesser-known vitamin to one in the spotlight.

Reference:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15514282/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18722618/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15514282/ https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/f... https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15514282/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3161... https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15514282/ Vitamin K | Linus Pauling Institute | Oregon State University https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15514282/ https://www.webmd.com/diet/foods-high-in-vitamin-...

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.