Everything about vitamin K2

1. Of course we are all familiar with vitamin C, vitamin D and a number of others, and we obediently eat our portion of fruits and vegetables every day to get these necessary vitamins into our body. Although all vitamins are very important for various functions of the body, I would like to draw your attention to an often forgotten vitamin: The vitamin K2. Until recently, little was known about vitamin K2, and actually the entire group of vitamin K. In the past, vitamin K2 was only associated with blood clotting and thrombosis. But due to intensive research, there is more and more evidence that vitamin K2 has many more important functions in the body.

2. Of course we are all familiar with vitamin C, vitamin D and a number of others, and we obediently eat our portion of fruits and vegetables every day to get these necessary vitamins into our body. Although all vitamins are very important for various functions of the body, I would like to draw your attention to an often forgotten vitamin: The vitamin K2. Until recently, little was known about vitamin K2, and actually the entire group of vitamin K. In the past, vitamin K2 was only associated with blood clotting and thrombosis. But due to intensive research there is more and more evidence that vitamin K2 has many more important functions in the body.

The benefits of vitamin K2

1. A number of benefits and effects of vitamin K, and vitamin K2 in particular, were already known. But recently a lot of scientific studies have been done, with surprising results:

Blood coagulation

1. Vitamin K has been known since its discovery as a means to regulate blood clotting. With an injury to the body, it is necessary to stop bleeding. This should not take too long, otherwise you will lose too much blood, but it should also not be too fast, otherwise you will have blood clots in your veins. Vitamin K therefore ensures that this is not too fast, but certainly not too slow. Vitamin K is not the only substance responsible for this, but it does fulfill a key function in this process. In addition, the components Fibrin and Prothrombin are important in the blood clotting mechanism.

2. Vitamin K has been known since its discovery as a means to regulate blood clotting. With an injury to the body, it is necessary to stop bleeding. This should not take too long, otherwise you will lose too much blood, but it should also not be too fast, otherwise you will suffer from blood clots in your veins. Vitamin K therefore ensures that this does not go too fast, but certainly not too slowly. Vitamin K is not the only substance responsible for this, but it does fulfill a key function in this process. In addition, the components Fibrin and Prothrombin are important in the blood clotting mechanism.

For mother and child

1. During pregnancy, and especially just before delivery, the expectant mother's body naturally undergoes many changes. One of these is ensuring minimal blood loss during delivery. An increased activity of blood clotting elements. But this also entails a risk: With many active blood clotting components, there is also an increased risk of thrombosis. Vitamin K helps to regulate this shaky balance, especially during pregnancy.

2. During pregnancy, and especially just before giving birth, the expectant mother's body naturally undergoes many changes. One of these is ensuring minimal blood loss during delivery. An increased activity of blood clotting elements. But this also entails a risk: With many active blood clotting components, there is also an increased risk of thrombosis. Vitamin K helps to regulate this shaky balance, especially during pregnancy.

1. Vitamin K is also important for the newborn child. This is partly due to the fact that Vitamin K cannot be passed on through the umbilical cord. Newborn babies therefore do not have a supply of vitamin K. In the first months, vitamin K is often given to the child to prevent brain bleeding.

Healthy bone growth

1. Vitamin K, and especially vitamin K2 (menaquinone-7), are important for the growth of the kids in connection with bone development. Vitamin K2 provides this in an indirect way, because for bone production it is necessary for the calcium to bind with Osteocalcin. And only vitamin K2 can realize this connection. Research by the UMC in Utrecht has shown that a structural intake of 45 mcg of vitamin K2 makes a very important contribution to bone development. Not only for growing children, but also for adults.

2. Vitamin K, and especially vitamin K2 (menaquinone-7), are important for the growth of the kids in connection with the development of the bones. Vitamin K2 provides this in an indirect way, because for bone production it is necessary for the calcium to bind with Osteocalcin. And only vitamin K2 can realize this connection. Research by the UMC in Utrecht has shown that a structural intake of 45 mcg of vitamin K2 makes a very important contribution to bone development. Not only for growing children, but also for adults.

Osteoporosis

1. Bone decalcification, as Osteoporosis is popularly called, is a condition that is becoming more and more common. Of course, the symptoms do not come until later in life. Few people know that you can avoid this, or at least delay it. But then you have to start at a younger age. This is not always easy, because the natural prevention of osteoporosis is mainly based on a healthy and balanced diet, especially sufficient fruit and vegetables. The problem here is the fact that fruits and vegetables no longer contain the nutritional value they once had. This is due to an impoverishment of the soil, new cultivation techniques and in some cases the irradiation of the food. I can continue to write about this, but unfortunately this story is outside the focus of the article.

2. Bone decalcification, as Osteoporosis is popularly called, is a condition that is becoming increasingly common. Of course, the symptoms do not come until later in life. Few people know that you can avoid this, or at least delay it. But then you have to start at a younger age. This is not always easy, because the natural prevention of osteoporosis is mainly based on a healthy and balanced diet, in particular sufficient fruit and vegetables. The problem here is the fact that fruits and vegetables no longer contain the nutritional value they once had. This is due to an impoverishment of the soil, new cultivation techniques and in some cases the irradiation of the food. I can continue to write about this, but unfortunately this story falls outside the focus of the article.

1. It is therefore important to work on strong bones from an early age by sufficient growth of new bone tissue. We all know that Calcium is of great importance for this, so we obediently take our glass of milk with added calcium. Few people know that calcium alone is not enough. You need Vitamin K2 to ensure that the calcium reaches the right places in the body, and that the calcium can bind with the Osteocalcin.

Flexible heart and blood vessels

1. Vitamin K2 also has an indirect benefit, following the previous story about stronger bones. The moment you get enough, or maybe even too much, calcium and you don't have the accompanying nutrients that make it possible for the calcium to actually be processed, then you have a problem. The excess of calcium can cause problems in the body. Just think of kidney stones. The excess calcium is also deposited in the veins, making them less and less flexible. As we all know, elastic blood vessels are important against all kinds of cardiovascular diseases.

1. A recent study has not only shown that sufficient vitamin K2 ensures proper processing and transport of the calcium, so this calcium is not deposited in the veins, but vitamin K2 also ensures cleaning the blood vessels. Vitamin K2 not only prevents deposition of calcium in the blood vessels, but also reverses it. A whole process that is already noticeable and measurable after a few weeks. The latter is a recent discovery and requires further investigation. But these first results are certainly encouraging.

Prostate cancer

1. One of the most recent results from medical research is a very remarkable one: Taking enough vitamin K2 would reduce the risk of prostate cancer by as much as 35%. Vitamin K2 would also be able to repair the damaged DNA in the mitochondria, which has a preventive effect on all types of cancer. Ok, these are also results of recent studies and all need to be checked again before medical science does indeed accept this as true. But these results are also very promising.

Are there any disadvantages and / or side effects?

1. As yet no side effects of an overdose are known, but that does not mean that there are no side effects. Most studies into the effect of vitamin K2 are very recent, and therefore the side effects and possible disadvantages have not yet been sufficiently studied. It is believed by some scientists that an overdose of vitamin K2 in combination with an anti-coagulant such as simple aspirin is not a wise choice. But with a normal dose of vitamin K2 of 45 mcg (= 1 capsule) there will be no problems.

1. For the sake of clarity, it should be mentioned that people who have excessive blood clotting, in combination with an overdose of vitamin K2, have a greatly increased risk of thrombosis.

Vitamin K2 in our food

1. Unfortunately, the amount of vitamin K2 in our daily food is not sufficient. Of course there are foods that contain vitamin K2, but those are exotic dishes or dishes that are definitely not on everyone's daily menu. And even if you eat this daily, it is still not enough.

1. Just to give you an impression of the nutrition where you can find relatively much vitamin K2:

1. From this list, the dish Natto is and remains the undisputed winner in terms of the amount of vitamin K2. It is mainly the fermentation process that is responsible for the relatively high concentration of vitamin K2.

Vitamin K2 as a food supplement?

1. It is now clear that vitamin K2 is an important nutrient for your body. But if it no longer occurs in sufficient quantities in our natural diet, we are forced to take it in capsule form. We call this artificial form vitamin K3. The great thing about this is that your body can convert this K3 into vitamin K2 itself. A food supplement that is therefore very effective.

1. Regarding the dosage, opinions are divided again. As for vitamin K2, it is recommended to take 1 capsule daily, which equals 45 mcg.

1. As for vitamin K in general, the recommended daily intake is 75 mcg for an adult and 35 mcg for a child. However, this guideline only takes into account the blood-clotting effect of vitamin K. The newly discovered functions have not yet been incorporated into this. What this will have for the Recommended Daily Allowance is therefore still a guess until all studies have been confirmed and medical science has accepted everything. After that, a new Recommended Daily Amount will likely be set.

Finally

1. Although the results of all studies on vitamin K2 are very promising, there is still a lot of research to be done to confirm everything. The amount of 1 capsule per day is considered safe. If you want to take more, it is wise to check this with a doctor because of the side effects with other medications.